title: Cardiovascular drugs in human mechanical nociception: digoxin, amlodipine, propranolol, pindolol and atenolol.
abstract: Calcium channel blockers, beta adrenergic receptor blockers and Na/K ATPase inhibitors are widely used drugs, mainly for cardiovascular diseases. Their pharmacological targets are not restricted to the cardivascular tissue, nociceptive system structures also express similar targets, which strongly suggests a direct effect on pain sensation. To evaluate the pain intensity changes in outpatient groups, who receive these drugs as a therapy, a cross-sectional sampled, randomized patient groups receiving the calcium channel blocker amlodipine for blood hypertension (n=45), beta adrenergic receptor blockers (propranolol, atenolol or pindolol; n=40) for blood hypertension, or digoxin (n=40) for heart failure, were compared to an aparently healthy volunteers control group (n=60). A calibrated noxious pressure of 890 g/mm2 was applied for 5 seconds on the patient's sternum. Subjective pain intensity was reported by the visual analog scale (VAS, 0 to 10). Pain modulation system was evaluated by the application of a second stimulus with a 5 minutes delay. The analgesic effect of the beta blockers group (propanolol, atenolol, pindolol) was dosage-dependant (-36.8%; P = 0.0000003), without differences among them. The calcium channel blocker amlodipine showed lower pain scores (-50.6%; P = 0.0000003) than beta-receptor blockers (P = 0.0000003). Digoxin presented the highest pain scores (+56.5%; P = 0.0000003). All pain scores for the second stimulus were lower than the first stimulus and were differentially affected by beta-blockers (atenolol, pindolol and propanolol) and calcium channel blocker (amlodipine), but not by digoxin. These results suggest the influence of widely clinically used cardiovascular drugs on nociception.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Medicina Interna, Hospital Universitario Dr. Angel Larralde, Instituto Venezolano de los Seguros Sociales, Venezuela.
authors.forename: Alfredo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Del Giaccio
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Eblen-Zajjur
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017311:Amlodipine / Q000494:pharmacology; D001262:Atenolol / Q000494:pharmacology; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004077:Digoxin / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009619:Nociceptors / Q000187:drug effects*; D010869:Pindolol / Q000494:pharmacology; D011433:Propranolol / Q000494:pharmacology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D017311:Amlodipine; D001262:Atenolol; D004077:Digoxin; D011433:Propranolol; D010869:Pindolol