Dextromethorphan potentiates the effect of morphine in rats with peripheral neuropathy.

Abstract

Neuropathic pain responds poorly to opioids. We now report that combination of systemic morphine (2 mg/kg) and dextromethorphan (45 mg/kg), a clinically available antitussive with NMDA-antagonist properties, markedly alleviated mechanical and cold allodynia-like behavior in a rat model of peripheral mononeuropathy. Neither drug produced a significant effect on its own at these doses. The anti-allodynic effect of morphine plus dextromethorphan was reversed by naloxone. The present results suggest that a combination of NMDA-antagonist and opiates might be effective in treating neuropathic pain. Furthermore, the effect of this drug combination is mainly mediated via opioid receptors.

• Authors: T Kauppila, X J Xu, W Yu, Z Wiesenfeld-Hallin
• Journal: Neuroreport (Neuroreport) Vol. 9 Issue 6 Pg. 1071-4 (Apr 20 1998) ISSN: 0959-4965 [Print] England
• PMID: 9601669 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Analgesics, Opioid
• Antitussive Agents
• Narcotic Antagonists
• Naloxone
• Dextromethorphan
• Morphine

Topics

• Analgesics, Opioid (therapeutic use)
• Animals
• Antitussive Agents (therapeutic use)
• Dextromethorphan (therapeutic use)
• Drug Synergism
• Drug Therapy, Combination
• Male
• Morphine (therapeutic use)
• Naloxone (therapeutic use)
• Narcotic Antagonists (therapeutic use)
• Peripheral Nervous System Diseases (drug therapy)
• Rats
• Rats, Sprague-Dawley