THE ANTINOCICEPTIVE EFFECT OF FLUVOXAMINE

The authors conducted a study in order to evaluate the antinociceptive effects of the serotonin-selective reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepr essant fluvoxamine and its interaction with various opioid receptor su btypes. Male ICR mice were tested with a hotplate analgesia meter. Flu voxamine elicited antinociceptive effect in a dose-dependent manner fo llowing i.p., i.t. and i.c.v. injection. Naloxone 10 mg/kg s.c. did no t abolish the fluvoxamine antinociceptive effect. At the next stage fl uvoxamine was administered together with various agonists of opioid re ceptors. When administered together with opiates, fluvoxamine signific antly potentiated analgesia at the kappa(3)-opioid receptor subtype (P <.005) and to a lesser extent, at the mu-, delta-, and kappa(1)-opioid receptors. We conclude that fluvoxamine alone induces an antinocicept ive effect. This effect is mediated by a non-opioid mechanism of actio n. These results suggest a potential role for fluvoxamine in the manag ement of pain when co-administered with opioids at low doses.