Nisoxetine produces local but not systemic analgesia against cutaneous nociceptive stimuli in the rat

The aim of this study was to evaluate the local anesthetic effect of nisoxetine as infiltrative cutaneous analgesic. After rats were injected subcutaneously with nisoxetine, dose–response curves were constructed. The cutaneous anesthetic effect of nisoxetine or MK-801 (dizocilpine) was compared with lidocaine, a traditional local anesthetic. We found that nisoxetine and MK-801 acted like lidocaine and elicited dose-related cutaneous (local) anesthesia. The relative potency was nisoxetine > MK-801 > lidocaine (P < 0.01) as infiltrative anesthesia of skin. On an equianesthetic doses (20% effective dose [ED20], ED50, and ED80), nisoxetine produced longer action of cutaneous anesthesia than that of lidocaine or MK-801 (P < 0.01). Coadministration of nisoxetine or lidocaine with MK-801 showed an additive cutaneous anesthesia. Neither local injection of a large dose of nisoxetine, MK-801 nor lidocaine in the thigh area produced cutaneous anesthesia (data not shown). In conclusion, nisoxetine had a local anesthetic effect as infiltrative cutaneous analgesia with durations of actions longer than that of lidocaine or MK-801. That N-methyl-d-aspartate receptors may not contribute to the cutaneous (local) anesthetic effect of nisoxetine or lidocaine.