The effects of naloxone on opiate and placebo analgesia in healthy volunteers

Abstract

Two double blind cross-over studies were performed using a submaximal effort tourniquet test (SETT) in healthy volunteers to investigate the role of endogenous opioids in placebo analgesia. In the first study IV naloxone significantly inhibited analgesia, miosis and sedation produced by the opioid dipipanone 10 mg in 12 subjects. In the second naloxone, which did not produce hyperalgesia, failed to inhibit significant placebo analgesia in 12 subjects. The results do not support the involvement of endogenous opioids in ischemic limb pain or placebo analgesia under these conditions.