Effects of lithium and rubidium on antinociception and behaviour in mice. II. Studies on three tricyclic antidepressants and pimozide.

The effects of LiCl and RbCl on the antinociception caused by three antidepressants and pimozide were studied in mice. On the hot plate LiCl given acutely or chronically did not modify the antinociception of any drug although it augmented hypothermia induced by chlorimipramine and occasionally also that caused by desipramine and doxepine, and also caused definitive changes in motor abilities. RbCl given acutely (2.5 mEq/kg) or for 5 or 21 days in tap water (1 g/liter) abolished the antinociception caused by pimozide and when given acutely or for 5 days that of desipramine. In the phenylquinone writhing test LiCl when given for 21 days enhanced the nearly complete antinociception caused by chlorimipramine, doxepine and pimozide. These effects of ions did not seem to be related to changes in body temperature, motor coordination nor motility.