1
|
Okutani H, Lo Vecchio S, Arendt-Nielsen L. Mechanisms and treatment of opioid-induced pruritus: Peripheral and central pathways. Eur J Pain 2024; 28:214-230. [PMID: 37650457 DOI: 10.1002/ejp.2180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2022] [Revised: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE Pruritus (also known as itch) is defined as an unpleasant and irritating sensation of the skin that provokes an urge to scratch or rub. It is well known that opioid administration can cause pruritus, which is paradoxical as itch and pain share overlapping sensory pathways. Because opioids inhibit pain but can cause itching. Significant progress has been made to improve our understanding of the fundamental neurobiology of itch; however, much remains unknown about the mechanisms of opioid-induced pruritus. The prevention and treatment of opioid-induced pruritus remains a challenge in the field of pain management. The objective of this narrative review is to present and discuss the current body of literature and summarize the current understanding of the mechanisms underlying opioid-induced pruritus, and its relationship to analgesia, and possible treatment options. RESULTS The incidence of opioid-induced pruritus differs with different opioids and routes of administration, and the various mechanisms can be broadly divided into peripheral and central. Especially central mechanisms are intricate, even at the level of the spinal dorsal horn. There is evidence that opioid receptor antagonists and mixed agonist and antagonists, especially μ-opioid antagonists and κ-opioid agonists, are effective in relieving opioid-induced pruritus. Various treatments have been used for opioid-induced pruritus; however, most of them are controversial and have conflicting results. CONCLUSION The use of a multimodal analgesic treatment regimen combined with a mixed antagonist and κ agonists, especially μ-opioid antagonists, and κ-opioid agonists, seems to be the current best treatment modality for the management of opioid-induced pruritus and pain. SIGNIFICANCE Opioids remain the gold standard for the treatment of moderate to severe acute pain as well as cancer pain. It is well known that opioid-induced pruritus often does not respond to regular antipruritic treatment, thereby posing a challenge to clinicians in the field of pain management. We believe that our review makes a significant contribution to the literature, as studies on the mechanisms of opioid-induced pruritus and effective management strategies are crucial for the management of these patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hiroai Okutani
- Center for Neuroplasticity and Pain, SMI, Department of Health Science and Technology, School of Medicine, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Hyogo Medical University, Nishinomiya, Hyogo, Japan
| | - Silvia Lo Vecchio
- Center for Neuroplasticity and Pain, SMI, Department of Health Science and Technology, School of Medicine, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Lars Arendt-Nielsen
- Center for Neuroplasticity and Pain, SMI, Department of Health Science and Technology, School of Medicine, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark
- Steno Diabetes Center North Denmark, Clinical Institute, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Okutani H, Lo Vecchio S, Ammitzbøll N, Drewes AM, Arendt-Nielsen L. Effects of oral morphine on experimentally evoked itch and pain: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Scand J Pain 2023; 23:743-750. [PMID: 37709368 DOI: 10.1515/sjpain-2023-0034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2023] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/16/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Pain and itch share similar neuronal networks; hence, it is difficult to explain why opioids can relieve pain but provoke itching. The present human volunteer study aimed to investigate the similarities and differences in responses to experimentally provoked pain and itching to explore the underlying fundamental mechanisms. METHODS Twenty-four healthy volunteers were enrolled in this single-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group trial. Three volar forearms and two mandibular areas were marked, and participants randomly received morphine (20 mg) or identical placebo tablets. Heat, cold, and pressure pain thresholds, and vasomotor responses were assessed at baseline and after oral morphine administration. Itch provocations were induced by intradermal application of 1 % histamine or a topical cowhage (non-histaminergic itch) to a marked area of the skin. The participants were subsequently asked to rate their itching and pain intensities. The assessments were repeated for all marked areas. RESULTS Morphine caused analgesia, as assessed by the significant modulation of cold and pressure pain thresholds (p<0.05). There were no significant differences in histaminergic or non-histaminergic itch or pain intensity between the morphine and placebo groups. Superficial blood perfusion (vasomotor response) following histamine provocation was significantly increased by morphine (p<0.05) in both areas. No correlation was found between the provoked itch intensity and analgesic efficacy in any area or group. CONCLUSIONS Oral administration of morphine caused analgesia without modulating itch intensities but increased neurogenic inflammation in response to histamine, suggesting that different opioid mechanisms in histaminergic and non-histaminergic neurons evoke neurogenic inflammation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hiroai Okutani
- Centre for Neuroplasticity and Pain, SMI, Department of Health Science and Technology, School of Medicine, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark
- Department of Anaesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Hyogo Medical University, Nishinomiya, Hyogo, Japan
| | - Silvia Lo Vecchio
- Centre for Neuroplasticity and Pain, SMI, Department of Health Science and Technology, School of Medicine, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Nadia Ammitzbøll
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mech-Sense, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Asbjørn Mohr Drewes
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mech-Sense, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Lars Arendt-Nielsen
- Centre for Neuroplasticity and Pain, SMI, Department of Health Science and Technology, School of Medicine, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mech-Sense, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark
- Steno Diabetes Center North Denmark, Clinical Institute, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Hur MS, Choe YB, Ahn KJ, Lee YW. Synergistic Effect of H1-Antihistamines on Topical Corticosteroids for Pruritus in Atopic Dermatitis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Ann Dermatol 2019; 31:420-425. [PMID: 33911620 PMCID: PMC7992765 DOI: 10.5021/ad.2019.31.4.420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2018] [Revised: 01/15/2019] [Accepted: 02/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Although oral antihistamines (H1-histamine receptor antagonists) are the main treatment option for pruritus in general skin dermatosis, their effect in treating pruritus of atopic dermatitis (AD) has not yet been established. Objective We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the effectiveness of combined therapy of H1-antihistamines and topical steroids. Methods We systematically searched MEDLINE, Embase, and CENTRAL databases for articles published from 1967 to 2015. We identified 1,206 studies and assessed their titles, abstract, and full-text. Random effects meta-analysis was used to calculate mean differences (MD) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results Two studies satisfying the inclusion criteria of antihistamine therapy with mandatory topical steroid use were selected. Comparing antihistamine monotherapy with combination therapy, patients treated with the addition of antihistamine to topical corticosteroids showed a statistically significant clinical improvement (standard MD, −0.24; 95% CI, −0.42 to −0.05; p=0.01). Conclusion H1-antihistamines may have a synergistic effect when combined with topical steroids by influencing various associative factors of chronic pruritus in AD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Min Seok Hur
- Department of Dermatology, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Yong Beom Choe
- Department of Dermatology, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Kyu Joong Ahn
- Department of Dermatology, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Yang Won Lee
- Department of Dermatology, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Jaefari-Anari M, Zendehdel M, Gilanpour H, Asghari A, Babapour V. Central Opioidergic System Interplay with Histamine on Food Intake in Neonatal Chicks: Role of µ-Opioid and H1/H3 Receptors. BRAZILIAN JOURNAL OF POULTRY SCIENCE 2018. [DOI: 10.1590/1806-9061-2018-0785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
|
5
|
Abstract
This paper is the thirty-ninth consecutive installment of the annual review of research concerning the endogenous opioid system. It summarizes papers published during 2016 that studied the behavioral effects of molecular, pharmacological and genetic manipulation of opioid peptides, opioid receptors, opioid agonists and opioid antagonists. The particular topics that continue to be covered include the molecular-biochemical effects and neurochemical localization studies of endogenous opioids and their receptors related to behavior, and the roles of these opioid peptides and receptors in pain and analgesia, stress and social status, tolerance and dependence, learning and memory, eating and drinking, drug abuse and alcohol, sexual activity and hormones, pregnancy, development and endocrinology, mental illness and mood, seizures and neurologic disorders, electrical-related activity and neurophysiology, general activity and locomotion, gastrointestinal, renal and hepatic functions, cardiovascular responses, respiration and thermoregulation, and immunological responses.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Richard J Bodnar
- Department of Psychology and CUNY Neuroscience Collaborative, Queens College, City University of New York, Flushing, NY 11367, United States.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Lin JG, Lee YC, Tu CH, MacDonald I, Chung HY, Luo ST, Hung SY, Chen YH. Histamine H1Receptor Antagonists Facilitate Electroacupuncture Analgesia. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF CHINESE MEDICINE 2018; 46:55-68. [DOI: 10.1142/s0192415x18500039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
This study investigated the influence of the histamine H1receptor antagonists, chlorpheniramine (CHL) and pyrilamine, on the analgesic effects of acupuncture in mice. Nociceptive response was evaluated by the acetic acid-induced abdominal writhe test. Electroacupuncture (EA) at bilateral ST36 reduced the manifestations of acetic acid-induced abdominal writhing, whereas needle insertion without electrostimulation had no such effect. Notably, EA treatment was not associated with any analgesic effects in mice pretreated with naloxone. Low doses of CHL (0.6[Formula: see text]mg/kg; p.o.) or pyrilamine (2.5[Formula: see text]mg/kg; i.p.) as monotherapy did not affect acetic acid-induced abdominal writhing. However, when each agent was combined with EA, acetic acid-induced abdominal writhing was reduced by a greater extent when compared with EA alone. Interestingly, the effects of CHL on acupuncture analgesia were not completely reversed by naloxone treatment. Acetic acid induced increases of phospho-p38 expression in spinal cord, as determined by immunofluorescence staining and Western blot analysis. These effects were attenuated by EA at ST36 and by low doses of histamine H1receptor antagonists, alone or in combination. Our findings show that relatively low doses of histamine H1receptor antagonists facilitate EA analgesia via non-opioid receptors. These results suggest a useful strategy for increasing the efficacy of EA analgesia in a clinical situation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jaung-Geng Lin
- School of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung 40402, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Chen Lee
- Graduate Institute of Acupuncture Science, China Medical University, Taichung 40402, Taiwan
- Department of Acupuncture, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung 40447, Taiwan
| | - Cheng-Hao Tu
- Graduate Institute of Acupuncture Science, China Medical University, Taichung 40402, Taiwan
| | - Iona MacDonald
- Graduate Institute of Acupuncture Science, China Medical University, Taichung 40402, Taiwan
| | - Hsin-Yi Chung
- Graduate Institute of Acupuncture Science, China Medical University, Taichung 40402, Taiwan
| | - Sih-Ting Luo
- Graduate Institute of Acupuncture Science, China Medical University, Taichung 40402, Taiwan
| | - Shih-Ya Hung
- Graduate Institute of Acupuncture Science, China Medical University, Taichung 40402, Taiwan
- Graduate Institute of Integrated Medicine, College of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung 40402, Taiwan
- Division of Colorectal Surgery, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung 40447, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Hung Chen
- Graduate Institute of Acupuncture Science, China Medical University, Taichung 40402, Taiwan
- Department of Photonics and Communication Engineering, Asia University, Taichung 41354, Taiwan
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Nakasone T, Wakuda H, Sugimoto Y, Kamei C. Effects of ICI204,448, naloxone methiodide and levocetirizine on the scratching behavior induced by a κ-opioid antagonist, nor-BNI, in ICR mice. Immunopharmacol Immunotoxicol 2017; 39:292-295. [DOI: 10.1080/08923973.2017.1354879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Tasuku Nakasone
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Yasuda Women’s University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Hirokazu Wakuda
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Yasuda Women’s University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Yumi Sugimoto
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Yasuda Women’s University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Chiaki Kamei
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Yasuda Women’s University, Hiroshima, Japan
| |
Collapse
|