British journal of pharmacology
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1. Flupirtine is a novel, centrally acting, non-opioid analgesic agent. The present investigation was undertaken to ascertain which neuronal systems might be responsible for its antinociceptive effect in rodents. ⋯ Flupirtine-induced antinociception also remained unchanged after pretreatment with haloperidol. 9. Flupirtine has no pharmacologically relevant affinity for alpha 1-, alpha 2-adrenoceptors, 5-HT1- and 5-HT2-receptors as shown in direct binding studies. 10. The present results indicate that the antinociceptive action induced by flupirtine depends on the descending noradrenergic pain-modulating system.