title: Effect of propranolol on hypertonic saline-evoked masseter muscle pain and autonomic response in healthy women during rest and mental arithmetic task.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate in a randomized, double-blinded, placebo controlled, crossover study the effect of a single dose of the nonselective β-adrenergic receptor antagonist propranolol (40 mg) on hypertonic saline (HS)-evoked masseter muscle pain and autonomic activity during rest and during a mental arithmetic task (Paced Auditory Serial Addition Task, PASAT).
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixteen healthy women participated in two sessions in which propranolol or placebo was administered orally prior to two 5-minute infusions (30 minutes apart) of HS in the masseter muscle. The second HS infusion was combined with PASAT. HS-evoked pain intensity was scored on a numeric rating scale (NRS, 0 to 10). Heart rate variability and hemodynamic measures were recorded noninvasively (Task Force Monitor). Data were analyzed with repeated measurements analysis of variance (ANOVA).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Propranolol did not reduce NRS pain scores compared with placebo but did induce significant autonomic changes with reduced heart rate and increased heart rate variability (standard deviations of all normal RR intervals; root mean square successive differences; low-frequency power; high-frequency power; and total power) independent of the mental task.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A single dose of propranolol had no effect on acute HS-evoked pain levels during rest or during mental arousal. However, it influenced the tone of the autonomic nervous system, possibly reflecting an anxiolytic effect.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dentistry, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark. karina.bendixen@odontologi.au.dk
authors.forename: Karina Haugaard
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Bendixen
authors.forename: Astrid Juhl
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Terkelsen
authors.forename: Lene
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Baad-Hansen
authors.forename: Brian E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Cairns
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Svensson
mesh_terms: D059787:Acute Pain / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005072:Evoked Potentials, Auditory; D005157:Facial Pain / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008406:Masseter Muscle / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011433:Propranolol / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012146:Rest; D012462:Saline Solution, Hypertonic; D013850:Thinking; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D012462:Saline Solution, Hypertonic; D011433:Propranolol