December's comment (2010)

This month we would like to go back to a topic we have dealt with in our Comment in other months, namely the interaction between antidepressants and opioids. We have always referred to antidepressants as adjuvant drugs whose purpose is to boost the analgesic action of other drugs. But this month an interesting experimental study performed at the University of Taiwan by Chu and his co-workers has been published. They show that the combination of the antidepressant tianeptine with morphine not only potentiates morphine-induced analgesia but is also able to reduce morphine antinociceptive tolerance and is even able to reduce abstinence syndrome. These data are without doubt of great interest, more so if they could also be assessed in clinical settings. Increasing the efficacy of opioid drugs while reducing their tolerance and physical dependence is an aim to be achieved.

Prof. Juan Antonio Mico

Dr. Esther Berrocoso

December's question (2010)

According to the study by Chu and co-workers (Behav. Pharmacol, 2010), which of the following antidepressants, is able to increase morphine analgesia while decreasing its tolerance and dependence:

1. Amitriptyline.

2. Paroxetine.

3. Tianeptinee.

4. Mirtazapinea.

Answer to November's question

2. Amitriptyline.