Methylphenidate attenuates the response to cold pain but not to aversive auditory stimuli in healthy human: A double-blind randomized controlled study

Dorit Pud, Eelena Broitman, Omar Hameed, Erica Suzan, Joshua Aviram, May Haddad, Salim Hadad, Rafi Shemesh, Elon Eisenberg

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Introduction: We recently showed that the psycho-stimulant norepinephrine–dopamine reuptake inhibitor methylphenidate (MP) prolonged cold pain threshold and tolerance in adults with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Objectives: The objectives of the present study were to: (1) examine whether MP has antinociceptive properties in healthy men; (2) test MP’s effects on responses to aversive auditory stimuli. The underlying aim was to determine whether MP exerts antinociceptive properties or more generalized, nonspecific attenuating effects on different aversive sensory modalities. Methods: This double-blind, crossover, randomized placebo-controlled study consisted of 2 sessions one week apart from each other. In each session, pain threshold (seconds) and tolerance (seconds) in response to painful cold stimulation were measured. Additionally, threshold (dB) and tolerance (seconds) to loud aversive auditory stimuli (500 Hz, 2000 Hz and white noise) were also tested prior to and 2 hours following the administration of a single dose of either 20 mg MP or an identical looking placebo. Results: Forty men, 26.1 6 4.0 (mean 6 SD) years were enrolled in the study. Wilcoxon signed-rank test analyses showed that MP, but not the placebo, produced a significant increase in cold pain threshold (from 4.1 6 2.6 to 5.4 6 3.1 seconds, P 5 0.001 and from 4.5 6 2.6 to 4.3 6 2.7 seconds, P 5 0.2, respectively) and tolerance (from 57.8 6 54.0 to 73.8 6 61.8 seconds, P 5 0.001 and from 52.5 6 53.7 sec to 57.0 6 52.9 seconds, P 5 0.1, respectively). No significant changes were found in any of the auditory parameters. Conclusion: These results suggest that MP has an effect on nociceptive pathways rather than a nonspecific, generalized attenuating effect on aversive sensory stimuli.

Original languageEnglish
Article numbere593
JournalPain Reports
Volume2
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 May 2017

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
Copyright © 2017 The Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. on behalf of The International Association for the Study of Pain.

Keywords

  • Dopamine
  • Experimental pain
  • Methylphenidate
  • Norepinephrine
  • Pain threshold
  • Pain tolerance

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine

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