Piroxicam reduces acute and chronic pain response in type 1 diabetic rats

Objectives: Pain associated with various underlying pathologies is a major cause of morbidity and diminished life quality in diabetic patients. Effective control of pain requires the use of analgesics with the best efficacy and with minimal side effects. Therefore, our aim in this study was to investigate the effects of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) on pain in diabetic rats.

Methods: In this study, we investigated the analgesic effects of drugs belonging to three different classes of NSAIDs in a rat model of diabetes. Four diabetic groups received normal saline, diclofenac, piroxicam and ketorolac, respectively, and four non-diabetic groups received normal saline, diclofenac, piroxicam and ketorolac. Type 1 diabetes was induced in rats by a single injection of streptozotocin (60 mg/kg bw). Formalin (50 µL of 2.5%) nociception assay was used to examine the effect of treatment with diclofenac, piroxicam and ketorolac on acute and chronic pain in healthy and diabetic rats.

Results: Piroxicam showed significant analgesic effects both in the acute phase of pain (5-10 min after injection of formalin into the left hind paw), and in the chronic phase (20-60 min after formalin injection) in healthy as well as diabetic rats. Diclofenac and ketorolac also reduced pain scores in healthy rats. However, these two drugs failed to diminish pain in diabetic rats.

Conclusion: Our data point for better efficacy of piroxicam in controlling pain in diabetes.