Oxycodone, fentanyl, and morphine amplify established neuropathic pain in male rats. Issue 11 (November 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Green-Fulgham, Suzanne M.; Ball, Jayson B.; Kwilasz, Andrew J.; Fabisiak, Timothy; Maier, Steven F.; Watkins, Linda R.; Grace, Peter M.
• Is Part Of: Pain. Volume 160:Issue 11(2019)
• Publication Date: 2019-11
• Subjects: rats -- oxycodone -- fentanyl -- morphine -- neuropathic pain -- chronic constriction injury -- behavior -- allodynia; Pain -- Periodicals; Douleur -- Périodiques; Anesthésie -- Périodiques; Pain; Electronic journals; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 616.0472
• DOI: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000001652
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0304-3959

Abstract

Abstract : Abstract: Opioids are widely prescribed for chronic pain, including neuropathic pain, despite growing evidence of long-term harm. Previous preclinical studies have documented exacerbation of nociceptive hypersensitivity, including that induced by peripheral nerve injury, by morphine. The present series of behavioral studies sought to replicate and extend our prior research, which demonstrated a multimonth exacerbation of nociceptive hypersensitivity by a 5-day course of morphine initiated 10 days after nerve injury. The current studies demonstrate that enduring exacerbation of nociceptive hypersensitivity is not restricted to morphine, but rather is also created by the clinically relevant opioids fentanyl and oxycodone when these are likewise administered for 5 days beginning 10 days after nerve injury. Furthermore, enduring exacerbation of nociceptive hypersensitivity is also observed when the same dosing regimen for either morphine, fentanyl, or oxycodone begins 1 month after nerve injury. Finally, a striking result from these studies is that no such exacerbation of nociceptive hypersensitivity occurs when either morphine, fentanyl, or oxycodone dosing begins at the time of nerve injury. These results extend our previous findings that morphine exacerbates nociceptive hypersensitivity to the clinically relevant opioids fentanyl and oxycodone when administered after the development of nociceptive hypersensitivity, while also providing possible clinically relevant insight into when these opioids can be safely administered and not exacerbate neuropathic pain. Abstract : Morphine, oxycodone, and fentanyl exacerbate neuropathic pain when administered starting 10 or 28 days after injury, but not when initiated at the time of surgery.