|
|
SHORT COMMUNICATION |
|
|
|
Year : 2011 | Volume
: 43
| Issue : 5 | Page : 596-598 |
|
Comparison of the efficacy of carbamazepine, gabapentin and lamotrigine for neuropathic pain in rats
Bharti Chogtu, KL Bairy, D Smitha, Supurna Dhar, P Himabindu
Department of Pharmacology, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal University, Manipal, Karnataka, India
Date of Submission | 06-Oct-2010 |
Date of Decision | 01-Nov-2010 |
Date of Acceptance | 01-Jul-2011 |
Date of Web Publication | 15-Sep-2011 |
Correspondence Address: Bharti Chogtu Department of Pharmacology, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal University, Manipal, Karnataka India
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/0253-7613.84980
Background : Neuropathic pain in cancer patients remain a treatment challenge. Many of the anticancer drugs have to be abandoned because patients develop neuropathic pain. Several antiepileptic drugs like carbamazepine, phenytoin, lamotrigine, felbamate are effective in neuropathic pain and trigeminal neuralgia. However, their efficacy varies. Aim : The aim of this study is to compare the efficacy of antiepileptic drugs in neuropathic pain induced by anticancer drugs. Materials and Methods : Neuropathic pain was induced in rats by injecting 4 doses of paclitaxel. The rats were divided into four groups of six animals each. Group I was treated with oral carbamazepine (cbz) 100 mg/kg, group II received oral gabapentin (gbp) 60 mg/kg, and group III was treated with oral lamotrigine (lam) 40 mg/kg and group IV was the control group. Behavioural testing for thermal hyperalgesia and mechanical hyperalgesia was assessed from 26 th day of paclitaxel administration to next five days by hot plate method and Randall Siletto test, respectively, in all the four groups. One way analysis of variance followed by Scheffe's post hoc test was used for statistical analysis. Results : In thermal hyperalgesia lam treated group was found to be significantly (P < 0.001) superior to cbz and gbp treated group. In mechanical hyperalgesia, lam group showed significant response (P < 0.05) as compared to gbp group. However, the gbp treated group showed a significant (P < 0.01) improvement after three days of treatment. Conclusions : In paclitaxel induced neuropathic pain, lamotrigine appears to be a promising drug. The difference in responses shown by different antiepileptics' depends on the etiology of the underlying mechanisms in neuropathic pain.
Keywords: Carbamazepine, gabapentin, lamotrigine, paclitaxel induced neuropathic pain
How to cite this article: Chogtu B, Bairy K L, Smitha D, Dhar S, Himabindu P. Comparison of the efficacy of carbamazepine, gabapentin and lamotrigine for neuropathic pain in rats. Indian J Pharmacol 2011;43:596-8 |
How to cite this URL: Chogtu B, Bairy K L, Smitha D, Dhar S, Himabindu P. Comparison of the efficacy of carbamazepine, gabapentin and lamotrigine for neuropathic pain in rats. Indian J Pharmacol [serial online] 2011 [cited 2023 Sep 22];43:596-8. Available from: https://www.ijp-online.com/text.asp?2011/43/5/596/84980 |
» Introduction | |  |
Neuropathic pain results from injury to the central or peripheral nerves and is difficult to treat. Allodynia (innocuous stimulation evokes intense and prolonged pain) and hyperalgesia (noxious stimulation evokes intense and prolonged pain) are prominent symptoms of neuropathic pain. [1] About 20% of cancer patients develop neuropathic pain and are at risk for terminating an otherwise successful treatment. [2] It restricts therapy to doses that are suboptimal for killing tumor cells and have a significant impact on the patient's quality of life. [3]
Drugs from different groups are used to treat neuropathic pain. With the development of animal models and improved understanding of pathophysiology of neuropathic pain, the efficacy of different groups of drugs is being assessed. Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), often the first choice have significant side effects [4] and antiepileptics are partially effective. [5] So it is difficult to select a right drug in different types of neuropathic pain. With this background, a study has been undertaken to compare the efficacy of antiepileptics carbamazepine (cbz), gabapentin (gbp) and lamotrigine (lam) in neuropathic pain induced by anticancer drug (paclitaxel) in rats.
» Materials and Methods | |  |
Animals
Adult male Wistar rats weighing between 150-200 g were used. Animals were acclimatized to the laboratory environment for 5-7 days before initiating in the study. They were allowed free access to water and were maintained on standard rat diet under laboratory conditions. 12-hour light/dark cycle was maintained. All procedures were carried with approval of Institutional Animal Ethics Committee (IAEC).
Drugs
Carbamazepine (100 mg/kg), [6] gabapentin (60 mg/kg), [7] lamotrigine (40 mg/kg) [8] were used in the doses as per the previous study. Carbamazepine and lamotrigine were dissolved in 2% gum acacia and gabapentin in distilled water. All the drugs were administered by oral gavage.
Experimental Protocol
Paclitaxel induced neuropathy pain model was used. Paclitaxel was dissolved in saline in the concetration of 2 mg/ml and injected intraperitoneally (2 mg/kg) on four alternate days (day 0-day 6). [9] The pain was first detected on day 15 and reached the peak severity on day 26. [9] Behavioural testing started on day 26 of paclitaxel administration. Animals were divided into four groups of six in each group. After taking baseline values, the drugs were administered once a day orally. The first group was treated with cbz (100 mg/kg), the second group with gbp (60 mg/kg), third group was administered lam (40 mg/kg) and the fourth group received distilled water as the control group. Hot plate latency and antihyperalgesic effects of the drugs were assessed 24 hours after administration of drug.
Thermal Hyperalgesia
Thermal hyperalgesia was assessed by hot plate method suitable for evaluation of analgesics having central action. The animal was placed on a hot plate maintained at a temperature of 55-56°C. Latency to either licking of hindpaw or vertical jumping was determined. The observer was blind to the drug treatment. The response was tested three times and the mean calculated.
Mechanical Hyperalgesia
Mechanical hyperalgesia, suitable for evaluation of central and peripheral analgesics, was assessed by Randall Selitto test as described by Randall and Selitto. [10] Analgesymeter (Ugo-Basile pressure apparatus) was used to assess the pressure pain threshold. The observer was blind to group treatment. The rat's hind paw was placed into the pressure applicator and steadily increasing pressure was applied to dorsal surface of paw until the rat withdrew. The force (in grams) needed to produce paw withdrawal is regarded as pain threshold.
Statistical Analysis
Statistical analysis among different groups was done using univariate method by one way analysis of variance followed by Scheffe's post hoc test. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
» Results | |  |
Effect of Drugs on Thermal Hyperalgesia
Lam (P < 0.001) and cbz significantly ( P < 0.05) increased the hot plate latency as compared to the control group. However, gbp did not show any difference on hot plate latency as compared to control. In intergroup comparison lam significantly ( P < 0.001) increased hotplate latency as compared to cbz and gbp. [Figure 1] shows the withdrawal latencies in lam, cbz, gbp and control group in hot plate method. | Figure 1: The withdrawal latency in rats treated with lamotrigine, carbamazepine and gabapentinin hot plate method. Where, values are in mean ± Standard error (SE) (n = 6); lam = lamotrigine, gbp = gabapentin, cbz = carbamazepine. Average = mean of day 1-5
Click here to view |
Effect of Drugs on Mechanical Hyperalgesia
Lam, cbz and gbp showed a significant ( P < 0.01, P < 0.01, P < 0.05 respectively) analgesic effect as compared to control. On comparing the three groups using ANalysis Of Variance (ANOVA), a statistically significant ( P < 0.05) difference was obtained. Post hoc tests revealed that anti hyperalgesic effect of lam was significant ( P < 0.05) as compared to gbp. However, the anti hyperalgesic effect of lam was not different from cbz. Analysis of the analgesic effect of drug on different days showed that in gbp group, there was a significant ( P < 0.01) attenuation in hyperalgesia over a span of 5 days [Figure 2]. | Figure 2: Pain threshold in animals treated with lamotrigine, carbamazepine and gabapentin. Values are in mean ± Standard error (SE) (n = 6); lam = lamotrigine, gbp = gabapentin, cbz = carbamazepine
Click here to view |
» Discussion | |  |
Neuropathic pain related to chemotherapeutic agents is often resistant to standard analgesics. Anticonvulsants have been utilized as adjuvant analgesics from 1960. [11] They act by potentiation of gamma- aminobutyric acid ( GABA) transmission, reduction of glutamate mediated excitatory transmission, and blockade of voltage-activated ion channels. This study compared the efficacy of carbamazapine, lamotrigine and gabapentin in neuropathic pain induced by paclitaxel. Studies show that treatment with paclitaxel 2 mg/kg produces long lasting heat hyperalgesia, mechanical allodynia and cold allodynia in mice. [12] The present study demonstrated that lam significantly increased withdrawal latency in hot plate method as compared to gbp and cbz. Lam is a novel antiepileptic and its antihyperalgesic effect is postulated mainly due to inhibition of glutamate release rather than sodium channel blockade. [13] Gbp has no effect on normal afferent fibre activity but inhibits the ectopic discharge activity associated with peripheral nerve injury [14] and for this reason its effect was not significantly different from control group on thermal hyperalgesia. Lam, cbz and gbp produced a significant analgesia as compared to control in paclitaxel induced peripheral neuropathic pain. In an earlier study, it has been shown that cbz, lam and gbp showed anti allodynia in vincristine induced peripheral neuropathy. [15]
Comparing the three drugs in Randall Selitto test, lam produced statistically significant analgesia as compared to gbp, but there was no difference between the analgesic action of lam and cbz. Some of the earlier studies demonstrated that gbp significantly reversed mechanoallodynia with 70 mg/kg dose [15] while others found no action against mechanoallodynia with 50-300 mg/kg doses. [16] Gbp has been found to be effective in diabetic models after single dose administration. [16] Majority of clinical evidence supports analgesic efficacy of gbp in diabetic neuropathy and postherpetic neuralgia, but limited evidence supports its efficacy in other types of neuropathies. [17] Gbp increased the threshold of mechanical hyperalgesia over five days and the effect reached peak by 4 th dose [Figure 2]. Similar results have been put forth in other study in which paclitaxel treated rats showed significant decrease in allodynia only after third injection of gbp. [9] Similarly, delay in onset of gabapentin analgesia was reported in traumatic nerve injury model. [18]
The small sample size and short duration of follow up are limitations of this study. Also Randall Selitto test is not a very sensitive test and can have observer bias which has been partly overcome by blinding the observer. To conclude, lam is an effective analgesic in anticancer drugs' induced neuropathic pain. Though gbp is very effective in diabetic neuropathic pain, it is lamotrigine which is superior to gbp in cancer chemotherapy induced neuropathic pain. This may be probably due to difference in the analgesic action of different antiepileptics. Also, the underlying mechanisms of neuropathic pain of different etiologies need to be understood.
» References | |  |
1. | Tremont-Lukats IW, Megeff C, Backonja MM. Anticonvulsants for neuropathic pain syndromes. Drugs 2000;60:1029-52.  [PUBMED] [FULLTEXT] |
2. | Peripheral neuropathy: Experimental findings, clinical approaches. J Support Oncol 2007;5:61-3.  |
3. | Polomano RP, Bennett GJ. Chemotherapy-evoked painful peripheral neuropathy. Pain Med 2001;2:8-14.  |
4. | Hempenstall K, Rice AS. Current treatment options in neuropathic pain. CurrOpinInvestig Drugs 2002;3:441-8.  |
5. | Bosnjak S, Jelio S, Susniar S, Lukic V. Gabapentin for relief of neuropathic pain related to anticancer treatment: A preliminary study. J Chemother 2002;14:214-9.  |
6. | Fox A, Gentry C, Patel S, Kesingland A, Bevan S. Comparative activity of anticonvulsants oxcarbazepine, carbamazepine, lamotrigine and gabapentin in amodel of neuropathic pain in the rat and guinea pig. Pain 2003;105:355-62.  [PUBMED] [FULLTEXT] |
7. | Field MJ, Mc Cleary S, Hughes J, Singh L. Gabapentin and pregabalin but not morphine and amitriptyline, block both static and dynamic components of mechanical allodynia induced by streptozotocin in rats. Pain 1999;80:391-8.  |
8. | Nakamura-Craig M, Follenfant RL. Effect of Lamotrigine in acute and chronic hyperalgesia induced by PGE2 and in the chronic hyperalgesia induced by PGE2 and in the chronic hyperalgesia in rats with Streptozotocin-induced diabetes. Pain 1995;63:33-7.  [PUBMED] [FULLTEXT] |
9. | Xiao W, Boroujerdi A, Bennett GJ, Luo ZD. Chemotherapy evoked painful peripheral neuropathic pain: Analgesic effects of gabapentin and effects on expression of the alpha-2-delta type-1 calcium channel subunit. Neurosciences 2007;144:714-20.  |
10. | Randall LO, Selitto JJ. A method for measurement of analgesic activity of inflamed tissue. Arch Int Pharmacodyn Ther 1957;111:409-19.  [PUBMED] |
11. | Nicholson B. Gabapentin use in neuropathic pain syndromes. Acta Neurol Scand 2000;101:359-71.  [PUBMED] [FULLTEXT] |
12. | Nieto FR, Entrena JM, Cendan CM, Pozo ED, Vela JM, Baeyens JM. Tetrodotoxin inhibits the development and expression of neuropathic pain induced by Paclitaxel in mice. Pain 2008;137:520-31.  |
13. | Lee TH, Wang CJ, Wu PC, Buerkle H, Lin SH, Yang LC. The thermal and mechanical antihyperalgesic effects of pre-versus post-intrathecal treatment with Lamotrigine in a rat model of inflammatory pain. Life Sci 2002;70:3039-47.  |
14. | Pan HL, Eisenach JC, Chen SR. Gabapentin suppresses ectopic nerve discharges and reverses allodynia in neuropathic rats. J Pharmacol ExpTher 1999;88:1026-30.  |
15. | Lynch JJ 3 rd , Wade CL, Zhong CM, Mikusa JP, Honore P. Attenuation of mechanical allodynia by clinically utilized drugs in rat chemotherapy-induced neuropthic pain model. Pain 2004;110:56-63.  |
16. | Luo ZD, Calcutt NA, Higuera ES, Valder CR, Song YH, Svensson CI, et al. Injury type-specific calcium channel alpha 2 delta-1 subunit up-regulation in rat neuropathic pain models correlate with antiallodynic effects of Gabapentin. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2002;303:1199-205.  [PUBMED] [FULLTEXT] |
17. | Gilron I, Flatters SJ. Gabapentin and pregabalin for the treatment of neuropathic pain: A review of lab. Pain Res Manag 2006;11:16A-29.  |
18. | Patel S, Naeem S, Kesingland A, Froestl W, Capogna M, Urban L, et al. The effects of GABA (B) agonists and gabapentin on mechanical hyperalgesia in models of neuropathic and inflammatory pain in the rat. Pain 2001;90:217-26.  [PUBMED] [FULLTEXT] |
[Figure 1], [Figure 2]
This article has been cited by | 1 |
FeTMPyP a peroxynitrite decomposition catalyst ameliorated functional and behavioral deficits in chronic constriction injury induced neuropathic pain in rats |
|
| Prashanth Komirishetty, Aparna Areti, Vijay Kumar Arruri, Ramakrishna Sistla, Ranadeep Gogoi, Ashutosh Kumar | | Free Radical Research. 2022; : 1 | | [Pubmed] | [DOI] | | 2 |
Management of trigeminal neuralgia from past to present: A review |
|
| Shaikh Amjad, Mubasshir Ahmed Shaikh, Shahnawaz Mulani, Revati V Deshmukh | | Journal of Oral Medicine, Oral Surgery, Oral Pathology and Oral Radiology. 2022; 8(3): 110 | | [Pubmed] | [DOI] | | 3 |
Carbamazepine conquers spinal GAP43 deficiency and sciatic Nav1.5 upregulation in diabetic mice: novel mechanisms in alleviating allodynia and hyperalgesia |
|
| Nagla A. El-Sherbeeny, Afaf T. Ibrahiem, Howaida S. Ali, Noha E. Farag, Eman A. Toraih, Sawsan A. Zaitone | | Archives of Pharmacal Research. 2020; 43(7): 724 | | [Pubmed] | [DOI] | | 4 |
LOW-DOSE NALTREXONE REVERSES FACIAL MECHANICAL ALLODYNIA IN A RAT MODEL OF TRIGEMINAL NEURALGIA |
|
| Camila Lino de Oliveira, Liciane Fernandes Medeiros, Vanessa Silva de Souza, Bettega Costa Lopes, Fabricio Finamor de Oliveira, Luana Xavier Marques, Iraci Lucena da Silva Torres, Andressa de Souza | | Neuroscience Letters. 2020; 736: 135248 | | [Pubmed] | [DOI] | | 5 |
Glia and epilepsy: Experimental investigation of antiepileptic drugs in an astroglia/microglia co-culture model of inflammation |
|
| Hannes Dambach,Daniel Hinkerohe,Nora Prochnow,Martin N. Stienen,Zahra Moinfar,Claus G. Haase,Andreas Hufnagel,Pedro M. Faustmann | | Epilepsia. 2013; : n/a | | [Pubmed] | [DOI] | | 6 |
The influence of spatial pulsed magnetic field application on neuropathic pain after tibial nerve transection in rat |
|
| Sebastian Szajkowski,Wieslaw Marcol,Adam Wlaszczuk,Grzegorz Cieslar,Marita Pietrucha-Dutczak,Aleksander Sieron,Joanna Lewin-Kowalik | | Electromagnetic Biology and Medicine. 2013; : 1 | | [Pubmed] | [DOI] | |
|
 |
|
|
|
|