Analgesic action of amfenac Na, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agent

J Pharmacobiodyn. 1988 Sep;11(9):612-9. doi: 10.1248/bpb1978.11.612.

Abstract

Amfenac Na is a new non-steroidal analgesic anti-inflammatory drug which is clinically used for ailments such as rheumatoid arthritis and pain and/or inflamation after surgery. In this paper, amfenac Na is studied on the bradykinin induced-flexor reflex and the simultaneous recording of the cortical somatosensory-evoked response (SER) and the electromyogram of digastric muscle (d-EMG) evoked by a tooth pulp stimulation. Amfenac Na at doses of 0.1-1 mg/kg p.o. suppressed hindlimb flexor reflexes induced by bradykinin infusion in the rat. This effect was the most potent among the drugs used; the order of potency was as follows: amfenac Na greater than floctafenine greater than loxoprofen much greater than piroxicam = emorfazone greater than mefanamic acid. Similarly, the intravenous injection of amfenac Na completely suppressed the flexor reflex with a dose as low as 0.1 mg/kg; the potency was almost equal to that of morphine. On the SER and d-EMG evoked by tooth pulp stimulation, a high dose (100 mg/kg i.v.) of amfenac Na showed very weak inhibition, whereas morphine (10 mg/kg i.v.) suppressed those responses. These data suggest that amfenac Na showed a very potent analgesic effect comparable to morphine, and that the site of action is mainly the periphery.

MeSH terms

  • Action Potentials / drug effects
  • Animals
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / pharmacology*
  • Bradykinin / administration & dosage
  • Bradykinin / pharmacology
  • Electric Stimulation
  • Electromyography
  • Infusions, Intra-Arterial
  • Male
  • Phenylacetates / pharmacology*
  • Rats
  • Rats, Inbred Strains
  • Reflex / drug effects

Substances

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal
  • Phenylacetates
  • amfenac
  • Bradykinin