[Do antidepressive agents have analgesic effects?].

Patients with chronic pain are often depressed, and antidepressants have been widely used in the treatment of these patients. Well controlled clinical studies have shown that antidepressants have analgesic effects, apparently independent of changes in mood, and in lower doses than used in the treatment of depression. Good results have been reported for several types of chronic pain, especially headache and facial pain, arthritis, fibromyalgia and neuralgias. In addition, antidepressants have also an indirect analgesic action by relieving a depressive condition associated with chronic pain.