JOURNAL HOME CME HOME THIS MONTH PAST ISSUES ETOC COLLECTIONS
AUTHORS REVIEWERS EDITORIAL BOARD FEEDBACK RSS HELP
A&A International Anesthesia Research Society
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

This Article
Right arrow Abstract Freely available
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a colleague
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in Web of Science
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Web of Science (18)
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Zarauza, R.
Right arrow Articles by Monedero, P.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Zarauza, R.
Right arrow Articles by Monedero, P.
Anesth Analg 2000;91:938-943
© 2000 International Anesthesia Research Society

REGIONAL ANESTHESIA AND PAIN MEDICINE

A Comparative Study with Oral Nifedipine, Intravenous Nimodipine, and Magnesium Sulfate in Postoperative Analgesia

Rosina Zarauza, MD, PhD, Ana N. Sáez-Fernández, MD, PhD, María J. Iribarren, MD, PhD, Francisco Carrascosa, MD, PhD, María Adame, MD, PhD, Isabel Fidalgo, MD, and Pablo Monedero, MD, PhD

Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, School of Medicine, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain

Address correspondence and reprint requests to Rosina Zarauza, MD, PhD, Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, School of Medicine, University of Navarra, E-31080 Pamplona, Spain. Address e-mail to rzarauza{at}unav.es


   Abstract
Top
 Abstract
Introduction
 Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 References
 
We tested the ability of two L-type calcium channel blockers (nifedipine and nimodipine) and the N-methyl D-aspartate natural antagonist magnesium to decrease morphine requirements and pain in the postoperative period in 92 patients undergoing elective colorectal surgery. In a randomized, double-blinded study, patients were assigned to one of four groups. The control group received placebo. The nifedipine group received 60 mg of oral nifedipine. The magnesium group received an initial dose of 30 mg/kg followed by 10 mg · kg-1 · h-1 of magnesium sulfate over 20 h. The nimodipine group received 30 µg · kg-1 · h-1 of nimodipine over 20 h. Postoperative morphine consumption was assessed for 48 h. Pain at rest and pain on movement were assessed up to the fifth day postsurgery. There were no differences among groups in postoperative morphine consumption at 12 and 24 h. The nifedipine group consumed more morphine than the control and nimodipine groups during 24–48 h. Pain at rest scores were higher at 16 and 24 h in the nifedipine group than in the other three groups. Pain on movement scores were lower at 72 h in the nimodipine group than in the control and nifedipine groups. In conclusion, the perioperative application of oral nifedipine, IV nimodipine, or IV magnesium sulfate failed to decrease postoperative morphine requirements after colorectal surgery.

Implications: The increase of intracellular calcium plays a key role in spinal transmission of pain and in the establishment of central sensitization. We examined the effects of nifedipine, nimodipine, and magnesium sulfate in postoperative analgesia after colorectal surgery. We found no differences in morphine consumption with the administration of each drug alone.


   Introduction
Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 References
 
Voltage-gated calcium channel conductance is essential for the nervous system to signal painful events. The movement of Ca2+ into and out of the sensory neurons is involved in a variety of processes, including the release of neurotransmitters. Numerous animal studies indicate a close relationship between the antinociceptive effect of opioids and Ca2+ concentrations. Drugs that increase intracellular Ca2+ in neurons block opioid analgesia (1) or produce hyperalgesia (2) when injected supraspinally. Conversely, acute opioid exposure decreases intracellular Ca2+ levels and Ca2+ binding to synaptic membranes and vesicles (3). Calcium chelators and calcium channel blockers (CCB) not only enhance opioid analgesia (2), but may be antinociceptive per se (4).

Evidence suggests that the increase of intracellular Ca2+ plays a key role in the establishment of central sensitization (5). Noxious stimulation produces an influx of Ca2+ through both voltage-sensitive calcium channels that facilitates presynaptic neurotransmitter release and postsynaptic N-methyl D-aspartate calcium channels (NMDA-CCs), which triggers the sequence of events leading to cellular hyperexcitability. Studies in animal models of persistent pain in which central sensitization is present support this theory (5).

Magnesium is a physiological blocker of the NMDA-CC (6). It may suppress neuropathic pain (7), enhance morphine analgesia, and attenuate morphine tolerance (8) in rats. Magnesium deficiency produces hyperalgesia that can be reversed by NMDA antagonists (9) and has been related to acute medical/surgical conditions in which pain or stress is present (10).

The development of central sensitization may be prevented not only with NMDA antagonists, but also with CCBs and magnesium, which block Ca2+ entry into the neurons. We assessed and compared the efficiency of oral nifedipine, IV nimodipine, and magnesium sulfate for postoperative pain relief.


   Methods
Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Methods
Results
 Discussion
 References
 
We conducted a randomized, doubled-blinded, placebo-controlled study in 92 patients, ASA physical status I–II, scheduled for colorectal surgery from March 1997 to November 1998. The study was approved by the hospital ethical committee and written informed consent was obtained from the participants. Exclusion criteria were an age <30 yr or >75 yr; treatment with analgesics, CCBs, magnesium, or opioids; and a previous history of psychiatric, neurologic, cardiovascular, respiratory, liver, or renal disease. All surgeries were performed by one team of surgeons, with the same surgical technique and suprainfraumbilical incision.

Patients were randomly assigned by the hospital pharmacy to four groups: Group C = control; Group NF = nifedipine gastrointestinal therapeutic system formulation (GITS); Group MG = magnesium; Group NM = nimodipine. The protocol of the administration of studied drugs is shown in Table 1.


View this table:
[in this window]
[in a new window]
  		Table 1. Medication for the Four Groups
 
Oral tablets of placebo were prepared by the hospital pharmacy. These tablets and nifedipine GITS were distributed by a nurse blinded to the allocated group. The tablets were given 3 h before surgery because plasma levels of nifedipine GITS are not detectable for at least 3 h after its administration. We chose oral nifedipine GITS because of the simplicity of its administration and advantageous pharmacokinetic properties. This osmotic system tablet presents a zero order delivery, a relatively constant plasma concentration over at least an 18-h interval, and its absorption is unaffected by changes in gastrointestinal motility and pH.

The studied IV drugs were prepared and labeled by a nurse not involved in the perioperative care of the patient. A saline solution of 500 mL was wrapped with an opaque cover and connected to an opaque system because nimodipine is sensitive to the light. We used nimodipine in the customary dose for the treatment of cerebral hemorrhage.

The IV initial dose of magnesium sulfate was calculated according to weight and is similar to the customary dose in the treatment of dysrhythmias (2 g/70 kg). The maintenance dose was slightly smaller than that used in the referred setting (0.7 g/70 kg). These doses are also smaller than those used in the treatment of preeclampsia (4 g initial dose and 2 g/h for maintenance). In a previous trial (11), the initial dose was larger (3 g) and the maintenance dose was similar (0.5 g). Because of the variability of patient weight we preferred to design a mg/kg dose.

The night before surgery patients received 1.5 mg of oral bromazepam. During the preoperative visit, we explained the use of a patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) device, and a standard horizontal 100-mm pain visual analog scale (VAS).

Patients received an oral tablet (studied drugs) approximately 3 h before surgery, and 0.01 mg/kg atropine, 0.05 mg/kg diazepam, and 1.25 mg droperidol as premedication 30 min before anesthetic induction. Standard anesthetic induction was done with thiopental, atracurium, and 4 µg/kg IV fentanyl, and maintained with isoflurane, nitrous oxide in oxygen, and a continuous infusion of fentanyl at 1 µg · kg-1 · h-1 until the closing of the peritoneum. An initial dose of the studied IV drug was given in a period of time of 20 min after anesthetic induction, followed by an IV drip over 20 h. A bolus dose of 0.05 mg/kg morphine was injected 15 min after stopping the fentanyl infusion. Antagonism of neuromuscular blockade was achieved with 0.01 mg/kg atropine and 0.02 mg/kg neostigmine IV.

After surgery, patients stayed in the postanesthesia care unit for 24 h. On arrival, 2 mg IV morphine was given at 5 min intervals if the patient reported pain (VAS >= 5). When VAS was <5, a PCA device (Provider; Abbott Laboratories, North Chicago, IL) containing 1 mg/dose morphine with 10 min lockout interval and no continuous infusion, was connected to the patient. Benzodiazepines were avoided during the first 48 h. The administration of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) was restricted to patients whose morphine requirements were more than 0.3 mg/kg during the first 6 h and had persisting pain (VAS >= 5). They received 2 g of IV propacetamol and, if necessary, 2 g of IV metamizole.

On arrival at the holding area, the level of anxiety was assessed by the anesthesiologist according to the following scale: 1 = patient calm; 2 = patient nervous; 3 = patient very nervous. Morphine requirements were assessed 12, 24, and 48 h after surgery. VAS at rest was assessed at 30, 60 min, 2, 6, 16, 24, 48, 72 h and on the fifth day postsurgery. VAS on movement (when patient sat up 45° from the supine position) was assessed at 16, 24, 48, 72 h and fifth day after surgery. The requirements of NSAIDs were assessed according to the following score: 0 = no NSAIDs; 1 = propacetamol; 2 = metamizole.

Sedation was assessed 0, 2, 6, 16, 24, and 48 h postsurgery according to the following score: 1 = fully awake; 2 = somnolent, responds to verbal commands; 3 = somnolent, responds to tactile stimulation; 4 = asleep, responds to painful stimulation. Noninvasive systolic arterial blood pressure, diastolic arterial blood pressure, mean arterial blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, and pulse oximetry oxygen saturation were recorded at intervals of 4 h during the first 24 h. Time for return to normal bowel function (bowel sounds, withdrawal of nasogastric tube, oral fluids intake, flatus passed, and evacuation of bowels) was assessed according to the following score: 1 = <24 h; 2 = >24 h and <48 h; 3 = >48 h and <72 h; 4 = >72 h and <96 h; 5 = >96 h and <120 h; 6 = >120 h. Blood samples for determination of serum magnesium concentrations were obtained before anesthetic induction (basal), and at 0,12, 24, and 48 h after surgery.

Analysis of variance and the {chi}2 test were performed to compare demographic data and preoperative clinical variables. The Kruskall-Wallis test and the Mann-Whitney U-test with Bonferroni correction were used to compare ordinal data (VAS at rest, VAS on movement, preoperative anxiety, sedation, and the variables related to bowel function) and to compare preoperative anxiety with morphine requirements. Analysis of variance was used to compare postoperative morphine consumption among groups. The {chi}2 test was also used to analyze dichotomous variables. A P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. A sample size of 17 patients per group was needed to detect a difference in morphine consumption between treatments of one SD at a two-sided 5% significance level with a power of 80% (11a).


   Results
Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Methods
 Results
Discussion
 References
 
Ninety-six patients were enrolled in the study. Data from four patients were not included in the analysis (one in Group C, two in Group NF, and one in Group MG). One patient received a mistaken dose of fentanyl during surgery, another one experienced intense low back pain in the postoperative period, another presented with an anxiety condition that contributed to large morphine consumption, and another one was reoperated 48 h postsurgery (for bleeding).

The four groups were not significantly different with regard to age, weight, sex, type, or duration of surgery and intraoperative doses of fentanyl (Table 2). There were no differences in preoperative level of anxiety among groups.


View this table:
[in this window]
[in a new window]
  		Table 2. Demographic and Intraoperative Data for the Four Treatment Groups
 
Mean morphine doses at different periods and cumulative morphine doses at 24 and 48 h are shown in Fig 1. There were no significant differences among groups in postoperative morphine consumption during 0–12 and 12–24 h. Group NF had significantly large morphine consumption compared with Groups C and NM at 24–48 h.



View larger version (33K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
  		Figure 1. Postoperative morphine consumption. Mean and SD are shown. Group C = control; Group NF = nifedipine; Group MG = magnesium; Group NM = nimodipine. *Different from Group C and NM (P < 0.05).

 
No relationship was found between the level of anxiety and total morphine requirements in the control group. Pain at rest was significantly more in Group NF than in the other three groups at 16 and 24 h after surgery (Fig. 2). Pain on movement was significantly less in Group NM than in Groups C and NF at 72 h (Fig. 3).



View larger version (39K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
  		Figure 2. Pain visual analog scale at rest. Median and interquartilic range are shown. Group C = control; Group NF = nifedipine; Group MG = magnesium; Group NM = nimodipine. *Different from other three groups (P < 0.05).

 


View larger version (48K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
  		Figure 3. Pain visual analog scale on movement. Median and interquartilic range are shown. Group C = control; Group NF = nifedipine; Group MG = magnesium; Group NM = nimodipine. *Different from Groups C and NF (P < 0.01).

 
Twenty patients required NSAIDs in the first 48 h (three of Group C, 10 of Group NF, three of Group MG, and four of Group NM). Three of Group C, five of Group NF, one of Group MG, and two of Group NM required metamizole.

There were no significant differences among groups in sedation scores at 0, 2, 6, 16, 24, and 48 h postsurgery. There were no significant differences among groups in systolic, diastolic and mean arterial pressures, heart rate, respiratory rate, and pulse oximetry (with oxygen mask at FIO2) of 40% during the first 24 h. Only three patients who had hypotension during surgery, required ephedrine. Only one patient had bradycardia, both during surgery and in the postoperative period, that did not require treatment. There were no significant differences among groups in time for bowel sound return, withdrawal of the nasogastric tube, intake of fluids, flatus passed, and evacuation of the bowel.

The incidence of nausea, vomiting, and other side effects was similar in all groups (Table 3). A total of 28 patients experienced at least one episode of nausea during the first 48 h related to head position changes in 20 patients (probably because of nasogastric tube). Only four patients required treatment (1.25 mg droperidol in two and 8 mg ondansetron in addition to droperidol in the other two) because they presented with more than one episode. Persistent ileus was considered when time for bowel sound return was longer than 72 h after surgery.


View this table:
[in this window]
[in a new window]
  		Table 3. Incidence of Side Effects and Complications
 

   Discussion
Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Methods
 Results
 Discussion
References
 
We found no statistically significant differences among groups for postoperative morphine consumption after colorectal surgery, except during the 24- to 48-hour time interval, where, surprisingly, Group NF had significantly larger morphine consumption than Groups C and NM. There is no clear reason for the observed more intense pain at rest scores in Group NF at 16 and 24 hours postsurgery, nor the larger morphine consumption in this group during 24–48 hours. Although total morphine consumption was similar in the four groups, Group NF had the largest total and partial mean doses (except at 12- to 24-hour interval). The lower efficacy profile of this group is also shown in that more patients required NSAIDs than the other groups. Neither is a clear reason for lower pain on movement scores in Group NM at only 72 hours. This group also had the smallest total mean morphine consumption. If nimodipine could exert a preemptive analgesic effect, VAS scores both at rest and on movement should be less before 48 hours and thereafter.

There are few randomized, placebo-controlled double-blinded clinical studies that test the role of L-type calcium channel blockers (L-CCBs) or magnesium sulfate in postoperative analgesia. The trials that test the effect of L-CCBs found positive (12–14) and negative results in relation to analgesic consumption (15). Only two trials (14,15) have an adequate number of patients, a similar type of surgery, and a time of assessment of at least 12 hours with the use of a PCA device. Lehmann et al (15) found no statistically significant differences in postoperative fentanyl consumption with IV nimodipine at the same dose that was used in our study; however, Choe et al. (14) found less postoperative analgesic consumption (mixture of morphine-ketorolac-droperidol) with epidural verapamil.

The role of nimodipine in cancer pain is conflicting. Santillán et al. (16) found positive results; however, Roca et al (17) obtained negative results similar to ours. Hasegawa et al. (18) also obtained negative results by evaluating the effect of different L-CCBs in pain induced by a cold-pressor test.

The trials that test the role of magnesium sulfate (11,19) found positive and negative results, respectively, in relation to morphine consumption, although the period of maintenance infusion was longer in the study of Tramer et al (11) (20 hours) than in the study of Wilder-Smith et al (19) (only intraoperative).

There are several possible reasons for our negative results in postoperative morphine consumption. First, the individual variability in morphine consumption that predicts the need of a bigger sample size (47 patients per group) to detect a variation between treatments for at least 25%, if the SD is equal to 40% of the mean.

Second, despite several previous animal studies showing that CCBs enhance the analgesic effect of systemically administered opioids, it is probable that CCBs are more effective by intrathecal and epidural routes, as it was demonstrated in the study of Choe et al. (14). Systemic CCBs may also enhance the analgesic effect of epidural morphine (13). One may question whether the route of the administration of nifedipine is the most appropriate. Although, theoretically, surgery should not affect nifedipine GITS absorption (there are no data from literature on this question), the lack of plasma level determination prevents us from definitive conclusions about any coanalgesic effect.

Third, although the influx of Ca2+ through both CCs and NMDA-CCs may be involved in the establishment of central sensitization, Ca2+ influx through NMDA-CC appears to be more important. Ca2+ chelators, which reduce all available extracellular Ca2+ (not just that entering through CCs) and noncompetitive NMDA antagonists are more efficient than CCBs in suppressing persistent pain (5). Although magnesium can suppress neuropathic pain in rats (7), ketamine (an NMDA antagonist) has been more effective than magnesium both in chronic neuropathic (20) and postoperative pain in which central sensitization is present (19).

Fourth, it is possible that L-CCs are less important than other types of CCs in pain pathways. Three main types of calcium channels (L, T, and N) have been identified in sensory neurons of the spinal cord. Although both L-CCs and N-CCs have been involved in the release of neurotransmitters and neuromodulators in sensory neurons, N-CCs may be more important than L-CCs in spinal pain transmission. L-CCBs enhance the antinociceptive effect of morphine, but are not antinociceptive per se at the spinal cord level (21). However, the antinociceptive effect of N-CCBs alone has been demonstrated in different animal models of pain (22). Nimodipine could not prevent the inhibitory effects of Ca2+ in morphine analgesia, whereas {omega}-conotoxin GVIA (an N-CCB) completely prevented it (23), which indicates that N-CCs may be even more important than L-CCs in morphine analgesia.

Fifth, L-CCBs, and perhaps magnesium, may be less important in acute than in chronic pain. Chronic pain and opioid tolerance are associated with changes in neuronal intracellular calcium levels, and L-CCs appear to be involved in the establishment of opioid tolerance (24). There is a significant difference between the acute and the tolerant condition in CCB enhancement of opioid analgesia (25). Perhaps this is the reason for finding different results in clinical trials of cancer patients with morphine tolerance (16) and in acute (15,18) or chronic settings without tolerance (17). In one study, intrathecal infusion of magnesium with morphine attenuated morphine tolerance (8).

In conclusion, the use of oral nifedipine, IV nimodipine, or magnesium sulfate at normal clinical doses failed to decrease postoperative morphine requirements in patients undergoing colorectal surgery. Therefore, their clinical use specifically for postoperative pain management may not be justified. It is possible that the use of L-CCBs or magnesium sulfate by other routes of the administration (intrathecal/epidural), with or without opioids, may offer clinical advantages. Studies of these drugs by these routes must await proper preclinical toxicity screening.


   Acknowledgments
 
We thank the nurses at the anesthesiology department of the Clínica Universitaria, especially Amaia Serrano and Guayarmina Rosso, for their help in this study.


   Footnotes
 
An abstract of this data was published in Br J Anaesth 1999;82(Suppl 1);A-668 and was selected for a free paper prize competition at the Annual Congress of the European Society of Anaesthesiologists, Amsterdam, Netherlands, May 29-June 1, 1999.


   References
Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 References
 

  1. Vocci FJ, Jr., Welch SP, Dewey WL. Differential effects of divalent cations, cation chelators and an ionophore (A23187) on morphine and dibutyryl guanosine 3': 5'-cyclic monophosphate antinociception. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 1980;214:463–6.
  2. Ben Sreti MM, Gonzalez JP, Sewell RD. Effects of elevated calcium and calcium antagonists on 6,7-benzomorphan-induced analgesia. Eur J Pharmacol 1983; 90: 385–91.[Web of Science][Medline]
  3. Yamamoto H, Harris RA, Loh HH, Way EL. Effects of acute and chronic morphine treatments on calcium localization and binding in brain. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 1978; 205: 255–64.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  4. Miranda HF, Bustamante D, Kramer V, et al. Antinociceptive effects of Ca2+ channel blockers. Eur J Pharmacol 1992; 217: 137–41.[Web of Science][Medline]
  5. Coderre TJ, Katz J, Vaccarino AL, Melzack R. Contribution of central neuroplasticity to pathological pain: review of clinical and experimental evidence. Pain 1993; 52: 259–85.[Web of Science][Medline]
  6. Mayer ML, Westbrook GL, Guthrie PB. Voltage-dependent block by Mg2+ of NMDA responses in spinal cord neurones. Nature 1984; 309: 261–3.[Medline]
  7. Feria M, Abad F, Sanchez A, Abreu P. Magnesium sulphate injected subcutaneously suppresses autotomy in peripherally deafferented rats. Pain 1993; 53: 287–93.[Web of Science][Medline]
  8. McCarthy RJ, Kroin JS, Tuman KJ, et al. Antinociceptive potentiation and attenuation of tolerance by intrathecal co-infusion of magnesium sulfate and morphine in rats. Anesth Analg 1998; 86: 830–6.[Abstract]
  9. Weissberg N, Schwartz G, Shemesh O, et al. Serum and intracellular electrolytes in patients with and without pain. Magnes Res 1991; 4: 49–52.[Medline]
  10. Dubray C, Alloui A, Bardin L, et al. Magnesium deficiency induces an hyperalgesia reversed by the NMDA receptor antagonist MK801. Neuroreport 1997; 8: 1383–6.[Web of Science][Medline]
  11. Tramer MR, Schneider J, Marti RA, Rifat K. Role of magnesium sulfate in postoperative analgesia. Anesthesiology 1996; 84: 340–7.[Web of Science][Medline]
  12. Lerman J. Study design in clinical research: sample size estimation and power analysis. Can J Anaesth 1996; 43: 184–91.[Web of Science][Medline]
  13. Carta F, Bianchi M, Argenton S, et al. Effect of nifedipine on morphine-induced analgesia. Anesth Analg 1990; 70: 493–8.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  14. Pereira IT, Prado WA, Dos Reis MP. Enhancement of the epidural morphine-induced analgesia by systemic nifedipine. Pain 1993; 53: 341–5.[Web of Science][Medline]
  15. Choe H, Kim JS, Ko SH, et al. Epidural verapamil reduces analgesic consumption after lower abdominal surgery. Anesth Analg 1998; 86: 786–90.[Abstract]
  16. Lehmann KA, Kriegel R, Ueki M. The clinical significance of drug interactions between opiates and calcium antagonists: a randomized double-blinded study using fentanyl and nimodipine within the framework of postoperative intravenous on-demand analgesia. Anaesthesist 1989; 38: 110–5.[Web of Science][Medline]
  17. Santillan R, Hurle MA, Armijo JA, et al. Nimodipine-enhanced opiate analgesia in cancer patients requiring morphine dose escalation: a double-blinded, placebo-controlled study. Pain 1998; 76: 17–26.[Web of Science][Medline]
  18. Roca G, Aguilar JL, Gomar C, et al. Nimodipine fails to enhance the analgesic effect of slow release morphine in the early phases of cancer pain treatment. Pain 1996; 68: 239–43.[Web of Science][Medline]
  19. Hasegawa AE, Zacny JP. The influence of three L-type calcium channel blockers on morphine effects in healthy volunteers. Anesth Analg 1997; 85: 633–8.[Abstract]
  20. Wilder-Smith OH, Arendt Nielsen L, Gaumann D, et al. Sensory changes and pain after abdominal hysterectomy: a comparison of anesthetic supplementation with fentanyl versus magnesium or ketamine. Anesth Analg 1998; 86: 95–101.[Abstract]
  21. Felsby S, Nielsen J, Arendt Nielsen L, Jensen TS. NMDA receptor blockade in chronic neuropathic pain: a comparison of ketamine and magnesium chloride. Pain 1996; 64: 283–91.[Web of Science][Medline]
  22. Omote K, Sonoda H, Kawamata M, et al. Potentiation of antinociceptive effects of morphine by calcium-channel blockers at the level of the spinal cord. Anesthesiology 1993; 79: 746–52.[Web of Science][Medline]
  23. Sluka KA. Blockade of calcium channels can prevent the onset of secondary hyperalgesia and allodynia induced by intradermal injection of capsaicin in rats. Pain 1997; 71: 157–64.[Web of Science][Medline]
  24. Smith FL, Stevens DL. Calcium modulation of morphine analgesia: role of calcium channels and intracellular pool calcium. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 1995; 272: 290–9.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  25. Bernstein MA, Welch SP. Alterations in L-type calcium channels in the brain and spinal cord of acutely treated and morphine-tolerant mice. Brain Res 1995; 696: 83–8.[Web of Science][Medline]
  26. Diaz A, Ruiz F, Florez J, et al. Regulation of dihydropyridine-sensitive Ca++ channels during opioid tolerance and supersensitivity in rats. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 1995; 274: 1538–44.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
Accepted for publication June 5, 2000.




This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Anesth. Analg.Home page
M. R. Tramer and C. J. Glynn
An Evaluation of a Single Dose of Magnesium to Supplement Analgesia After Ambulatory Surgery: Randomized Controlled Trial
Anesth. Analg., June 1, 2007; 104(6): 1374 - 1379.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Anesth. Analg.Home page
C. Lysakowski, L. Dumont, C. Czarnetzki, and M. R. Tramer
Magnesium as an Adjuvant to Postoperative Analgesia: A Systematic Review of Randomized Trials
Anesth. Analg., June 1, 2007; 104(6): 1532 - 1539.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Anesth. Analg.Home page
G. Casey, S.-A. Nortcliffe, P. Sharpe, and D. J. Buggy
Perioperative Nimodipine and Postoperative Analgesia
Anesth. Analg., February 1, 2006; 102(2): 504 - 508.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Anesth. Analg.Home page
C. J. L. McCartney, A. Sinha, and J. Katz
A Qualitative Systematic Review of the Role of N-Methyl-D-Aspartate Receptor Antagonists in Preventive Analgesia
Anesth. Analg., May 1, 2004; 98(5): 1385 - 1400.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

This Article
Right arrow Abstract Freely available
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a colleague
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in Web of Science
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Web of Science (18)
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Zarauza, R.
Right arrow Articles by Monedero, P.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Zarauza, R.
Right arrow Articles by Monedero, P.

Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins Anesthesia & Analgesia® is published for the International Anesthesia Research Society® by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins with the assistance of Stanford University Libraries' HighWire Press®. Copyright 2006 by the International Anesthesia Research Society. Online ISSN: 1526-7598   Print ISSN: 0003-2999 HighWire Press