401. Neurobiology of neuropathic pain: mode of action of anticonvulsants.
- Author
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Dickenson AH, Matthews EA, and Suzuki R
- Subjects
- Animals, Calcium Channels drug effects, Calcium Channels metabolism, Humans, Neuralgia metabolism, Neurons, Afferent drug effects, Neurons, Afferent metabolism, Peripheral Nervous System Diseases metabolism, Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate drug effects, Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate metabolism, Spinal Cord drug effects, Spinal Cord metabolism, Spinal Cord physiopathology, Synaptic Transmission drug effects, Synaptic Transmission physiology, Analgesics pharmacology, Anticonvulsants pharmacology, Neuralgia drug therapy, Neuralgia physiopathology, Peripheral Nervous System Diseases drug therapy, Peripheral Nervous System Diseases physiopathology
- Abstract
Anticonvulsants are widely used for the treatment of neuropathic pain. Here we review the evidence for a number of peripheral and central changes after nerve injury that may provide a basis for the mechanisms of action of anticonvulsant therapies. The roles of sodium channels, calcium channels, and central glutamate mechanisms are emphasized as the main targets for anticonvulsant drugs in neuropathic pain states. The focus of this article is on anticonvulsants; however, opioids and antidepressants can also be effective in increasing inhibitions to control of pain in a manner similar to that of the enhancement of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) function by antiepileptic drugs. A brief account of these approaches to neuropathic pain is also given., (Copyright 2002 European Federation of Chapters of the International Association for the Study of Pain)
- Published
- 2002
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