Annals of neurology
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Annals of neurology · Feb 2009
beta(2)-adrenoceptors are critical for antidepressant treatment of neuropathic pain.
Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) are one of the first-line pharmacological treatments against neuropathic pain. TCAs increase the extracellular concentrations of noradrenaline and serotonin by blocking the reuptake transporters of these amines. However, the precise downstream mechanism leading to the therapeutic action remains identified. In this work, we evaluated the role of adrenergic receptors (ARs) in the action of TCAs. ⋯ Stimulation of beta(2)-AR is necessary for nortriptyline to exert its antiallodynic action against neuropathic pain. These findings provide new insight into the mechanism by which antidepressants alleviate neuropathic pain. Our results also raise the question of a potential incompatibility between beta-blockers that affect beta(2)-AR and antidepressant drugs in patients treated for neuropathic pain.