A METHOD FOR THE DETERMINATION OF THE EFFECTS OF DRUGS ON THE PAIN THRESHOLD OF HUMAN SUBJECTS

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
A method is presented for determining the effects of analgesic agents upon the pain thresholds of human subjects. The method consists of inducing a sharp pain in the calf muscles by applying pressure with a sphygmomanometer cuff; the pressure required to induce pain is taken as a measure of the pain threshold. By controlling a few variables in the procedure, the normal threshold can be determined with an accuracy of ±10 mm. Hg pressure. With placebos, a maximum increase of 4% over the normal pain threshold occurred one hour after administration. Acetylsalicylic acid produced an increase of approximately 20% at the same period; this was significantly greater than placebo effects. The effect of mild narcotic agents, given orally, upon the pain threshold was also measured. Codeine phosphate and pethidine hydrochloride both produced a significant increase in the pain threshold. The method presented permits the use of untrained human subjects and is sufficiently sensitive to measure the effects of the antipyretic analgesics.

This publication has 3 references indexed in Scilit: