Systemic mexiletine relieves chronic allodynialike symptoms in rats with ischemic spinal cord injury.

Xu, X J; Hao, J X; Seiger, A; Arnér, S; Lindblom, U; Wiesenfeld-Hallin, Z · Anesth Analg · 1992

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

We have recently reported a chronic allodynialike symptom in rats after ischemic spinal cord injury. This pain-related behavior is resistant to a number of pharmacologic treatments, including morphine, clonidine, carbamazepine, baclofen, and muscimol. In the present report, we present evidence indicating that systemic mexiletine, a local anesthetic and antiarrhythmic agent, effectively relieves the allodynia-like symptoms at doses of 15 and 30 mg/kg in these rats without inducing major side effects. It is suggested that systemically applied mexiletine may be useful in treating central pain in patients with spinal cord injury.

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