Romanian Society of Pharmaceutical Sciences

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THE SYNERGISTIC ANTINOCICEPTIVE INTERACTION OF CODEINE AND PREGABALIN IN A SOMATIC PAIN MODEL IN MICE

ELIZA GRATIELA POPA1, LILIANA MITITELU TARTAU2*, RAOUL VASILE LUPUSORU3, CATALINA ELENA LUPUSORU2, IULIAN STOLERIU4, LACRAMIOARA OCHIUZ1

1.University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Grigore T. Popa”, Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Universitatii st. no. 16, code 700115, Iasi, Romania
2.University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Grigore T. Popa”, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology-Algesiology, Universitatii st. no. 16, code 700115, Iasi, Romania
3.University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Grigore T. Popa”, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Patho-Physiology, Universitatii st. no. 16, code 700115, Iasi, Romania
4.University “Al. I. Cuza”, Faculty of Mathematics, Carol I Bld, code 700506, Iasi, Romania

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We aimed to investigate the effects of pregabalin (PGB) and codeine (COD) combination in a somatic pain model (the tail flick test) in mice. In this experiment the substances were administered orally separately and in association; the tail withdrawal reflex latencies, as a response to thermal noxious tail stimulation, were registered at 0, 30, 60 and 90 minutes after substances administration. Differences between the experimental and baseline latencies were interpreted as an index of analgesia. Response latency data from tail flick measurements were also converted to per cent of maximum possible effect. In our experimental conditions oral administration of PGB-COD combination was associated with a stronger increase of latency time response, statistically significant after 15 minutes compared to control group, and to the groups treated with PGB, respectively COD in the tail flick test. We can conclude that oral administration of pregabalin proved to potentiate the antinociceptive effects of codeine in this somatic pain model in mice.