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Dextromethorphan shows efficacy in experimental pain (nociception) and opioid tolerance
K J Elliott1, M Brodsky, A Hyanansky
1Department of Neurology, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10021, USA.
Abstract:
The oral antitussive dextromethorphan is a clinically available N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist. Dextromethorphan has analgesic efficacy in the experimental formalin test, blocks the nociceptive activation of the immediate-early gene, c-fos proto-oncogene, and prevents and reverses the development of opiate analgesic tolerance in experimental models. These data suggest that dextromethorphan should be evaluated in a controlled clinical trial for analgesic efficacy in zoster-associated neuralgia.
Insights
Dextromethorphan, an N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist, shows promise for pain relief. It has demonstrated analgesic effects and can prevent tolerance to other pain medications, suggesting its potential for treating zoster-associated neuralgia.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Pharmacology
- Pain Research
Background:
- Dextromethorphan is an oral antitussive and a clinically available N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist.
- NMDA receptors play a role in pain signaling and the development of analgesic tolerance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the potential analgesic efficacy of dextromethorphan in zoster-associated neuralgia.
- To explore dextromethorphan's effects on pain pathways and opiate tolerance.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing experimental data on dextromethorphan's pharmacological actions.
- Analysis of dextromethorphan's effects in the formalin test for pain.
- Examination of dextromethorphan's impact on c-fos proto-oncogene expression.
- Assessment of dextromethorphan's role in opiate analgesic tolerance models.
Main Results:
- Dextromethorphan exhibits analgesic efficacy in experimental pain models.
- It blocks nociceptive activation of the c-fos proto-oncogene.
- Dextromethorphan prevents and reverses opiate analgesic tolerance in experimental settings.
Conclusions:
- Experimental data suggest dextromethorphan possesses analgesic properties relevant to neuropathic pain.
- Further investigation in controlled clinical trials is warranted to confirm its efficacy for zoster-associated neuralgia.