NSAIDs, Opioids, Cannabinoids and the Control of Pain by the Central Nervous System
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) act upon peripheral tissues and upon the central nervous system to produce analgesia. A major central target of NSAIDs is the descending pain control system. The rostral structures of the descending pain control system send impulses towards the spinal co...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2010-04-01
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| Series: | Pharmaceuticals |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.mdpi.com/1424-8247/3/5/1335/ |
| _version_ | 1819037979191017472 |
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| author | Horacio Vanegas Enrique Vazquez Victor Tortorici |
| author_facet | Horacio Vanegas Enrique Vazquez Victor Tortorici |
| author_sort | Horacio Vanegas |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) act upon peripheral tissues and upon the central nervous system to produce analgesia. A major central target of NSAIDs is the descending pain control system. The rostral structures of the descending pain control system send impulses towards the spinal cord and regulate the transmission of pain messages. Key structures of the descending pain control system are the periaqueductal gray matter (PAG) and the rostral ventromedial region of the medulla (RVM), both of which are critical targets for endogenous opioids and opiate pharmaceuticals. NSAIDs also act upon PAG and RVM to produce analgesia and, if repeatedly administered, induce tolerance to themselves and cross-tolerance to opioids. Experimental evidence shows that this is due to an interaction of NSAIDs with endogenous opioids along the descending pain control system. Analgesia by NSAIDs along the descending pain control system also requires an activation of the CB1 endocannabinoid receptor. Several experimental approaches suggest that opioids, NSAIDs and cannabinoids in PAG and RVM cooperate to decrease GABAergic inhibition and thus enhance the descending flow of impulses that inhibit pain. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-21T08:30:01Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-bb1fe1fd570141c4863c5ee59e769eee |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1424-8247 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-21T08:30:01Z |
| publishDate | 2010-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Pharmaceuticals |
| spelling | doaj.art-bb1fe1fd570141c4863c5ee59e769eee2022-12-21T19:10:14ZengMDPI AGPharmaceuticals1424-82472010-04-01351335134710.3390/ph3051335NSAIDs, Opioids, Cannabinoids and the Control of Pain by the Central Nervous SystemHoracio VanegasEnrique VazquezVictor TortoriciNonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) act upon peripheral tissues and upon the central nervous system to produce analgesia. A major central target of NSAIDs is the descending pain control system. The rostral structures of the descending pain control system send impulses towards the spinal cord and regulate the transmission of pain messages. Key structures of the descending pain control system are the periaqueductal gray matter (PAG) and the rostral ventromedial region of the medulla (RVM), both of which are critical targets for endogenous opioids and opiate pharmaceuticals. NSAIDs also act upon PAG and RVM to produce analgesia and, if repeatedly administered, induce tolerance to themselves and cross-tolerance to opioids. Experimental evidence shows that this is due to an interaction of NSAIDs with endogenous opioids along the descending pain control system. Analgesia by NSAIDs along the descending pain control system also requires an activation of the CB1 endocannabinoid receptor. Several experimental approaches suggest that opioids, NSAIDs and cannabinoids in PAG and RVM cooperate to decrease GABAergic inhibition and thus enhance the descending flow of impulses that inhibit pain.http://www.mdpi.com/1424-8247/3/5/1335/NSAIDopioidcannabinoiddescending pain control systemPAGRVM |
| spellingShingle | Horacio Vanegas Enrique Vazquez Victor Tortorici NSAIDs, Opioids, Cannabinoids and the Control of Pain by the Central Nervous System Pharmaceuticals NSAID opioid cannabinoid descending pain control system PAG RVM |
| title | NSAIDs, Opioids, Cannabinoids and the Control of Pain by the Central Nervous System |
| title_full | NSAIDs, Opioids, Cannabinoids and the Control of Pain by the Central Nervous System |
| title_fullStr | NSAIDs, Opioids, Cannabinoids and the Control of Pain by the Central Nervous System |
| title_full_unstemmed | NSAIDs, Opioids, Cannabinoids and the Control of Pain by the Central Nervous System |
| title_short | NSAIDs, Opioids, Cannabinoids and the Control of Pain by the Central Nervous System |
| title_sort | nsaids opioids cannabinoids and the control of pain by the central nervous system |
| topic | NSAID opioid cannabinoid descending pain control system PAG RVM |
| url | http://www.mdpi.com/1424-8247/3/5/1335/ |
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