Relationship between plasma levels and the anti-neuropathic pain effect of Lamotrigine in rat model

Background

The study was undertaken to assess the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic correlation of Lamotrigine (LMT) was determined following oral administration to prove that there was a direct relationship between daily dose, plasma level of LMT and analgesic effects.

Methods

Neuropathic pain was induced by chronic constriction injury of the sciatic nerve. This technique allows consecutive measurements of the paw withdrawal thresholds and paw withdrawal duration on hyperalgesia and allodynia respectively. Increase in threshold and decrease in the duration of paw withdrawals was used as an analgesic effect against neuropathy.

Results and discussion

The results demonstrate that there was a positive correlation between plasma correlation and pharmacodynamic effects in neuropathic pain.

Conclusion

Since there was a positive correlation between plasma correlation and pharmacodynamic effects in neuropathic pain, the plasma levels of Lamotrigine are good indicators of efficacy of the same in animal models of neuropathic pain.