Antipruritic effect of an opiate antagonist, naloxone hydrochloride.
Central elicitation of itch by morphine may result from binding to opiate receptors, mimicking the physiological binding of endorphins and enkephalins to these receptors. Pretreatment of normal subjects with naloxone hydrochloride resulted in diminution or abolition of histamine-provoked itch. These results suggest an important role for central opioid peptides as mediators of the itch sensation.
D000328:Adult; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006632:Histamine; D006801:Humans; D009270:Naloxone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011537:Pruritus / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*
D009292:Narcotic Antagonists; D009270:Naloxone; D006632:Histamine