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Relevance of nitric oxide in pain mechanisms and pain management

Current Review of Pain volume 2, pages 211–216 (1998)Cite this article

Abstract

Nitric oxide (NO) may be involved in the mechanisms of pain generation and transmission throughout the central and peripheral nervous systems (including brain and spinal cord and perivascular tissue and peripheral nerve terminals) and locally released pain mediators (including formation of inflammation and vascular edema). NO mechanisms are also involved in the analgesic activity of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, opioids, and local anesthetics. These novel observations dictate new approaches to the pharmacologic treatment of migraine, neuropathic pain, and other forms of chronic, intractable pain that are resistant to classical pharmacotherapy.The new strategies of pharmacologic pain treatment are increasing rapidly due to the availability of new drugs modulating the NO-activated cascade and soon may be available for clinical use.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anesthesiology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, 504 Oxford House, 1313 21st Avenue South, 37232-4125, Nashville, TN, USA

    Piotr K. Janicki MD, PhD & Magdalena Jeske-Janicka MD

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  1. Piotr K. Janicki MD, PhD
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  2. Magdalena Jeske-Janicka MD
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Janicki, P.K., Jeske-Janicka, M. Relevance of nitric oxide in pain mechanisms and pain management. Current Review of Pain 2, 211–216 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11916-998-0022-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11916-998-0022-5

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