Effects of naltrexone on electrocutaneous pain in patients with hypertension compared to normotensive individuals.
An opioid mechanism may help explain hypertensive hypoalgesia. A double-blind placebo-controlled design compared the effects of opioid blockade (naltrexone) and placebo on electrocutaneous pain threshold, pain tolerance, and retrospective McGill Pain Questionnaire ratings in 35 unmedicated patients with essential hypertension and 28 normotensive individuals. The hypertensives experienced less pain than normotensives during the assessment of their pain tolerance; however, this manifestation of hypertensive hypoalgesia was not moderated by naltrexone. These findings fail to support the hypothesis that essential hypertension is characterised by relative opioid insensitivity.
Ring
Christopher
C
International Centre for Health and Exercise Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK. c.m.ring@bham.ac.uk
France
Christopher R
CR
al'Absi
Mustafa
M
Edwards
Louisa
L
McIntyre
David
D
Carroll
Douglas
D
Martin
Una
U
D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D004723:Endorphins / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009271:Naltrexone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000187:drug effects; D017288:Pain Threshold / Q000187:drug effects
D004723:Endorphins; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists; D009271:Naltrexone