Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of metamizol in co-administration with morphine under acute and chronic treatments in arthritic rats.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between metamizol pharmacokinetics and the antinociceptive effect produced after subcutaneous administration of metamizol (177.8 mg/kg) alone or in combination with morphine (3.2 mg/kg), under acute and chronic treatments.

METHODS: Antinociception was assessed using the pain-induced functional impairment model in rat (PIFIR). Serial blood samples were collected from the same animals to study the pharmacokinetics of metamizol.

KEY FINDINGS: The co-administration of the drugs in single dose, confirmed the potentiation of their individual antinociceptive effects. When the drugs were administered alone following the chronic schedule, a pronounced tolerance development to their antinociceptive effects was found, whereas it was significantly attenuated when they were administered together. Metamizol pharmacokinetics was unaltered by the presence of morphine. Plasma concentrations of 4-methylaminoantipyrine, an active metabolite markedly decreased under chronic administration.

CONCLUSIONS: The mechanism involved in the potentiation of the antinociceptive effect produced by the combination, cannot be explained by the interaction of morphine on metamizol pharmacokinetics. Other pharmacokinetic interactions along with known pharmacodynamic interactions in which metamizol active metabolites contribute, should be considered. The frequency of administration enhances tolerance development and induces metamizol elimination process.