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Research Article| Volume 28, ISSUE 8, P650-656, October 15, 1990

Transcutaneous electrical stimulation with limoge current potentiates morphine analgesia and attenuates opiate abstinence syndrome

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0006-3223(90)90451-7
Transcutaneous electrical stimulation with limoge current potentiates morphine analgesia and attenuates opiate abstinence syndrome
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      Abstract

      Transcutaneous electrostimulation is a somewhat controversial technique used in the management of the opiate withdrawal syndrome. We report an animal study of a particular transcutaneous electrostimulation called transcutaneous cranial electrostimulation, based on a technique used for many years on heroin addicts for the rapid severance of their addiction, which has been validated in a clinical setting by a double-blind trial. This technique involves the application of an intermittent high-frequency current (Limoge's current). Our experimental data show that this transcutaneous cranial electrostimulation increases morphine analgesia by threefold on teh tail flick latency measure and produces a 48% attenuation of the abstinence syndrome observed after abrupt cessation of morphine administration. These results were obtained using a double-blind paradigm.
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      Article info

      Publication history

      Received in revised form: March 3, 1990
      Received: July 21, 1989

      Footnotes

      ☆Supported in part by the University of Bordeaux II, CNRS, INSERM, Regional Council of Aquitaine and Mission Interministérielle pour la Lutte contre la Toxicomanie (MILT).

      Identification

      DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/0006-3223(90)90451-7

      Copyright

      © 1990 Published by Elsevier Inc.

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