Atorvastatin and simvastatin as analgesic agents in experimental models

OBJECTIVES 1) To evaluate the analgesic effect of atorvastatin and simvastatin. 2) To compare analgesic activity of these with an established drug tramadol. MATERIALS AND METHODS Healthy Albino rats were taken. They were randomly divided into 4 groups of six animals each. Group I: Normal Saline (0.5 ml), Group II: Tramadol (10 mg/kg BW), Group III: Atorvastatin (10 mg/kg BW) and Group IV: Simvastatin (10 mg/kg BW). The animals were subjected to 3 different tests at different interval of time. The tests conducted were tail clip method, Eddy's hot plate and hot water tail immersion method. RESULTS Atorvastatin and simvastatin differ significantly from control hence they have analgesic action and even at any of the time intervals they do not differ significantly from tramadol; hence their analgesic effect is nearly comparable to tramadol. The results of the present study indicate that atorvastatin and simvastatin have analgesic action. CONCLUSION These statins are found to have analgesic effect other than hypolipidemic activity and can be used in these patients. However further study has to be undertaken in a broader way.