Volume :
5
Issue :
3
Abstract :
Aim
To assess the antinociceptive activity of some selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI- fluoxetine, escitalopram) and atypical antidepressant (mirtazapine).
Materials and methods
Adult wistar albino rats were grouped to receive control (normal saline), SSRI (fluoxetine, escitalopram), atypical antidepressant (mirtazapine) and standard (morphine). Different doses of fluoxetine, escitalopram, mirtazapine & morphine were administered intraperitoneally in order to assess their antinociceptive activity using tail flick analgesiometer method to pretested sensitive rats. Tail flick latencies (TFL) were assessed at 0, 30, 60, 90 and 120 min after drug administration.
Results
Fluoxetine in doses of 5mg/kg and 10 mg/kg produced significant increase in TFL at all times of observation while 2 mg/kg dose did not show any change. Escitalopram failed to produce any change to tail flick latency with all doses at all time of observation. Mirtazapine in both the higher doses (5mg/kg and 7mg/kg) increased tail flick latency at all time of observation while lower dose (3mg/kg) produced no effect.
Conclusion
The SSRI fluoxetine and antidepressant mirtazapine possesses significant antinociceptive activity whereas the SSRI escitalopram does not. However these need to be further proved in other animal models and in clinical studies.