Table 9.
Schematic overview of the effect of non-opioid analgesics in acute human experimental pain models
| Model | Drugs where analgesia has been detected | Drugs where analgesia has not been detected | References |
|---|---|---|---|
| Models applied in the skin/mucosa | |||
| Heat stimulation (laser) | Acetylsalicylic acid, ibuprofen, (paracetamol), | Imipramine, ketamine, | [9, 23, 37, 51, 52, 86] |
| Heat stimulation (thermode) | (ketamine), imipramine | Gabapentin, lamotrigine, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol | [48, 49, 54, 55, 59, 61, 68, 77, 78, 85, 93, 94] |
| Cold | Ketamine, lamotrigine, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol | [49, 59, 78, 94] | |
| Single electrical skin stimulation | Acetylsalicylic acid, ibuprofen, (ketamine), gabapentin, imipramine, (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol) | (Paracetamol) | [8, 17, 18, 30, 38, 39, 51, 52, 70, 83, 85, 91, 96] |
| Repeated electrical skin stimulation | Ketamine, gabapentin, imipramine | Paracetamol, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol | [30, 39, 51, 52, 70, 83, 85, 91] |
| Electrical stimulation of dental mucosa | Acetylsalicylic acid | [12] | |
| Stimulation of nasal mucosa with CO2 | Acetylsalicylic acid, ibuprofen, paracetamol, imipramine | (Lamotrigine) | [13, 20, 40, 76, 84] |
| Pressure [interdigital web (IW) or phalanx (P)] | Ibuprofen (IW), imipramine (P) | [21, 22, 83] | |
| Intradermal infusion of phosphate buffered solution | Acetylsalicylic acid, ibuprofen | [10] | |
| Pinprick | (Gabapentin) (repeated stimulation), delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol | Ibuprofen, ketamine | [32, 49, 59, 69, 94] |
| Models applied in the muscle | |||
| Deep pressure or fingerpulp (F) | Ketamine, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (repeated) | (Paracetamol), delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (F) | [39, 41, 51, 52, 91, 96] |
| Cold pressor test | Paracetamol, lamotrigine, (imipramine) | Ibuprofen, gabapentin, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol | [24, 25, 42, 81, 83, 85, 91, 92] |
| Injection of hypertonic saline | Ketamine | Paracetamol, (gabapentin) | [30, 39, 70, 71] |
| Single electrical stimulation | Ketamine | Paracetamol, gabapentin | [30, 39, 70] |
| Repeated electrical stimulation | Ketamine | Paracetamol, gabapentin | [30, 39, 70] |
| Ischaemic pain | Ketamine | Acetylsalicylic acid | [14, 66] |
| Models applied in the viscera | |||
| Distension of oesophagus | Imipramine, ketamine | [55, 89] | |
The table concludes and summarizes findings found above. Drugs in parentheses have different efficacy in different trials; the drug is then put in the category where evidence is strongest.