Interaction between tramadol and two anti-emetics on nociception and gastrointestinal transit in mice.

BACKGROUND: Clinical studies suggest that tramadol-induced analgesia is partially antagonized by ondansetron.

AIMS: To investigate the type of interaction between tramadol and two anti-emetics on antinociception and gastrointestinal transit in mice.

METHODS: We assessed the antinociceptive (acetic acid writhing test, plantar test) and antitransit (charcoal meal) effects of tramadol individually, and combined with ondansetron or droperidol in female Swiss CD-1 mice. Isobolograms and analysis of variance were used to determine the type of interaction.

RESULTS: In the writhing test, tramadol, ondansetron and droperidol, each induced dose-related inhibition of nociception. The ED(50)'s were: tramadol 4.2+/-0.33 mg kg(-1); ondansetron 1.03+/-0.05 mg kg(-1), and droperidol 1.00+/-0.14 mg kg(-1). Dose-response curves were also obtained with tramadol combined with ondansetron or droperidol at 1:1 fixed ratios. The isobolographic analysis demonstrated antagonism for both combinations. In the plantar test, the ED(50) for tramadol was 51.4+/-2.3 mg kg(-1), but no dose-response curves could be obtained with ondansetron or droperidol individually. The interaction was assessed from dose-response curves to tramadol in the presence of a fixed dose of ondansetron (0.1 mg kg(-1)) or droperidol (0.05 mg kg(-1)). The results show antagonism between tramadol-ondansetron (p<0.05) and no interaction for the tramadol-droperidol combination. Both anti-emetics antagonized the antitransit effects of tramadol.

CONCLUSIONS: The interaction of tramadol with ondansetron or droperidol on antinociception can be antagonistic or additive, depending on the type of stimuli. Both anti-emetics antagonize the anti-transit effects of tramadol. The results demonstrate antagonism between tramadol and the two anti-emetics for analgesia and inhibition of gastrointestinal transit, supporting previous clinical studies.