The antinociceptive properties of reboxetine in acute pain.
The antinociceptive effects of the selective noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor antidepressant reboxetine and its interaction with various opioid and noradrenaline receptor subtypes were evaluated. Reboxetine (i.p.) induced a weak dose-dependent antinociceptive effect in acute pain, using the hotplate model. The reboxetine-induced antinociception was significantly inhibited by the opioid receptor antagonists naloxone, nor-BNI, naltrindole and b-FNA, implying a non-selective role for the opioid receptors in the reboxetine's antinociceptive effect. The adrenergic antagonists yohimbine and phentolamine attenuated to some extent the reboxetine-induced antinociception, implying a minor adrenergic mechanism of antinociception. The addition of opioid or alpha2 agonists, did not potentiate the antinociception effect of reboxetine. Thus, it seems that reboxetine possesses a weak antinociceptive effect, mediated by non-selective opioid receptors and influenced somewhat by noradrenaline alpha2 receptors. These results suggest that reboxetine as monotherapy does not have sufficient efficacy in the management of acute pain. However, further research is needed in order to establish its possible use alone or in combination with other antidepressants or analgesics in the amelioration of chronic pain disorders.
Schreiber
Shaul
S
Dept. of Psychiatry, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center and Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel.
Frishtick
Ruthi
R
Volis
Ina
I
Rubovitch
Vardit
V
Pick
Chaim G
CG
Weizman
Ronit
R
D018674:Adrenergic Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D000700:Analgesics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003000:Clonidine / Q000494:pharmacology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004347:Drug Interactions; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D009020:Morphine / Q000494:pharmacology; D009025:Morpholines / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009270:Naloxone / Q000494:pharmacology; D009271:Naltrexone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000077593:Reboxetine; D017450:Receptors, Opioid, mu / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors
D018674:Adrenergic Antagonists; D000700:Analgesics; D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D009025:Morpholines; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists; D017450:Receptors, Opioid, mu; D009270:Naloxone; C051844:norbinaltorphimine; D009271:Naltrexone; D009020:Morphine; D000077593:Reboxetine; C055382:naltrindole; D003000:Clonidine