Failure of naloxone to reverse analgesia from transcutaneous electrical stimulation in patients with chronic pain. 1981

S E Abram, and A C Reynolds, and J F Cusick

To investigate the possible role of endogenous opiates in the mediation of analgesia produced by low intensity, high frequency transcutaneous electrical stimulation in the presence of chronic pain, an attempt was made to reverse stimulation-induced analgesia with naloxone. Fifteen patients with chronic pain who were consistently relieved of pain by low intensity, high frequency transcutaneous stimulation were studied. During stimulation at 58 Hz, patients were given double-blind intravenous injections of either naloxone (0.4 or 1.2 mg) or saline. Subjective pain ratings were recorded before stimulation, after stimulation, and after naloxone and saline injections. No reversal of analgesia was seen after naloxone or saline. These results suggest that transcutaneous stimulation at low intensity and high frequency may provide analgesia that is not associated with release of endogenous opiates in patients with chronic pain.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D008875 Middle Aged An adult aged 45 - 64 years. Middle Age
D009270 Naloxone A specific opiate antagonist that has no agonist activity. It is a competitive antagonist at mu, delta, and kappa opioid receptors. MRZ 2593-Br,MRZ-2593,Nalone,Naloxon Curamed,Naloxon-Ratiopharm,Naloxone Abello,Naloxone Hydrobromide,Naloxone Hydrochloride,Naloxone Hydrochloride Dihydride,Naloxone Hydrochloride, (5 beta,9 alpha,13 alpha,14 alpha)-Isomer,Naloxone, (5 beta,9 alpha,13 alpha,14 alpha)-Isomer,Narcan,Narcanti,Abello, Naloxone,Curamed, Naloxon,Dihydride, Naloxone Hydrochloride,Hydrobromide, Naloxone,Hydrochloride Dihydride, Naloxone,Hydrochloride, Naloxone,MRZ 2593,MRZ 2593 Br,MRZ 2593Br,MRZ2593,Naloxon Ratiopharm
D010148 Pain, Intractable Persistent pain that is refractory to some or all forms of treatment. Refractory Pain,Intractable Pain,Intractable Pains,Pain, Refractory,Pains, Intractable,Pains, Refractory,Refractory Pains
D004311 Double-Blind Method A method of studying a drug or procedure in which both the subjects and investigators are kept unaware of who is actually getting which specific treatment. Double-Masked Study,Double-Blind Study,Double-Masked Method,Double Blind Method,Double Blind Study,Double Masked Method,Double Masked Study,Double-Blind Methods,Double-Blind Studies,Double-Masked Methods,Double-Masked Studies,Method, Double-Blind,Method, Double-Masked,Methods, Double-Blind,Methods, Double-Masked,Studies, Double-Blind,Studies, Double-Masked,Study, Double-Blind,Study, Double-Masked
D004599 Electric Stimulation Therapy Application of electric current in treatment without the generation of perceptible heat. It includes electric stimulation of nerves or muscles, passage of current into the body, or use of interrupted current of low intensity to raise the detection threshold of the skin to pain. Electrotherapy,Electrical Stimulation Therapy,Interferential Current Electrotherapy,Therapeutic Electric Stimulation,Therapeutic Electrical Stimulation,Therapy, Electric Stimulation,Electric Stimulation, Therapeutic,Electrical Stimulation, Therapeutic,Electrotherapy, Interferential Current,Stimulation Therapy, Electric,Stimulation Therapy, Electrical,Stimulation, Therapeutic Electric,Stimulation, Therapeutic Electrical,Therapy, Electrical Stimulation
D004723 Endorphins One of the three major groups of endogenous opioid peptides. They are large peptides derived from the PRO-OPIOMELANOCORTIN precursor. The known members of this group are alpha-, beta-, and gamma-endorphin. The term endorphin is also sometimes used to refer to all opioid peptides, but the narrower sense is used here; OPIOID PEPTIDES is used for the broader group. Endorphin
D004745 Enkephalins One of the three major families of endogenous opioid peptides. The enkephalins are pentapeptides that are widespread in the central and peripheral nervous systems and in the adrenal medulla. Enkephalin
D005260 Female Females
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man

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