fluvoxamine and Pain--Intractable

In the present study, the effects of fluvoxamine on the inhibition of gastrointestinal transit, antinociception and hyperlocomotion induced by morphine were investigated in mice. Treatment with morphine (10 mg/kg, subcutaneously (s.c.)) inhibited gastrointestinal transit and hyperlocomotion. These effects were attenuated by fluvoxamine in a dose-dependent manner. On the other hand, morphine (1 mg/kg, s.c.)-induced antinociception was significantly potentiated by fluvoxamine. These results suggest that fluvoxamine combined with morphine may be useful for the treatment of not only depression but also pain in cancer patients without constipation or activation of the mesolimbic dopaminergic system. However, further understanding and clinical studies will be required to confirm this possibility.

Topics: Analgesics, Opioid; Animals; Depression; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug Interactions; Drug Therapy, Combination; Fluvoxamine; Gastrointestinal Transit; Hyperkinesis; Mice; Morphine; Neoplasms; Nociceptors; Pain, Intractable; Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors; Terminal Care; Terminally Ill