A comparative study of antinociceptive effect of paroxetine with pethidine in acute pain in albino rats

Background: Pain is the most common reason patients seek medical care. Increased level of monoamines (serotonin and norepinephrine) in synaptic clefts lead to changes in pain threshold and induce antinociception. The study was carried out to evaluate antinociceptive effect of paroxetine in albino rats and to probe into its possible mechanism of action. The study was carried out to evaluate anti-nociceptive effect of paroxetine in albino rats.Methods: Male Albino rats of average weight 150-240gms were used. The drugs used were paroxetine 5mg/Kg, pethidine 5mg/kg (standard drug). Anti-nociceptive effect tested by using thermal method i.e. Tail flick response and Tail warm water immersion method.Results: In this study, Anti-nociceptive effect of respective drugs were measured by using two methods i.e. tail flick test and tail warm water immersion method at 0 min., 30 min., 60 min. and 90min.after administration of drugs. Reaction time started to increase from baseline at 0 min. and peak effect was seen at 60 min. then it started to decrease at 90 min. in almost all the groups except in control group.Conclusions: Paroxetine have significant analgesic effect in acute pain, which may be mediated via central and peripheral mechanisms. Efficacy of Paroxetine is almost equal to that of standard drug pethidine in acute pain management