The effect of antihistaminic drugs on pentazocine antinociception in the rat.

The antinociception produced by pentazocine, diphenhydramine, promethazine, chlorpheniramine, cyclizine and chlorcyclizine in the rat has been measured with a low-temperature (51.5 degrees C) hot-plate from 15 to 75 min following drug administration. The mean reaction times measured at 15 min and the area under the antinociception curves following administration of pentazocine (5 to 30 mg/kg) were linear. Diphenhydramine, chlorpheniramine, promethazine, cyclizine, and chlorcyclizine showed mild antinociceptive potency. The antinociception produced by SC pentazocine (5 and 10 mg/kg) was potentiated, rather than in a simple additive manner, by simultaneous IP administration of 20 mg/kg of diphenhydramine, promethazine, cyclizine, or chlorpheniramine, but not by chlorcyclizine. After concurrent administration of pentazocine and diphenhydramine, diphenhydramine did not alter pentazocine concentrations in the brain and plasma 15 to 75 min following drug administration, nor did pentazocine change diphenhydramine concentrations. Results of this study demonstrate that pentazocine antinociception can be potentiated by several antihistamines and that the potentiation was not due to a mutual effect on metabolism but rather through an as yet undefined mechanism.