Brown R S, Bottomley W K
University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston.
Anesth Prog. 1990 Sep-Oct;37(5):223-9.
Tricyclic antidepressants show promise in the treatment of chronic facial pain. The antinociceptive activity of this class of drugs appears to be independent of any antidepressant effects. An hypothesis is proposed that tricyclics antidepressants activate a descending serotonergic (5-HT1) antinociceptive pathway which in turn influences endogenous opioids. This antinociceptive pathway appears to utilize an endogenous pain modulation system. Future studies may demonstrate the operative mechanisms of action and open understanding as to etiologic factors.
三环类抗抑郁药在治疗慢性面部疼痛方面显示出前景。这类药物的抗伤害感受活性似乎独立于任何抗抑郁作用。有人提出一种假说,即三环类抗抑郁药激活一条下行的血清素能(5-HT1)抗伤害感受通路,进而影响内源性阿片类物质。这条抗伤害感受通路似乎利用了一种内源性疼痛调节系统。未来的研究可能会揭示其作用机制,并增进对病因学因素的理解。