Effects of aripiprazole in the models of chronic constriction injury-induced neuropathic pain and reserpine-induced fibromyalgia

Aripiprazole is an atypical antipsychotic drug with a unique mechanism of action used in the treatment of various affective disorders and reported to be of potential use in various types of pain. In this thesis, it was aimed to investigate the possible effect of aripiprazole on the experimental models of neuropathic pain and fibromyalgia. For this purpose, the possible antiallodynic effect of 1, 5 and 10 mg/kg aripiprazole administered intraperitoneally (i.p.) in chronic constriction injury-induced neuropathic pain and reserpine-induced fibromyalgia models was evaluated with the electronic von Frey test and compared with the effects of reference drugs 30 mg/kg pregabalin and 30 mg/kg duloxetine, respectively. In addition, the advantage of combination therapy was investigated with combined treatment of aripiprazole and the reference drugs. Aripiprazole exhibited an antiallodynic effect on neuropathic pain model at doses of 5 and 10 mg/kg and on fibromyalgia model at all doses. Combined treatment showed potential in effective treatment with lower doses. Based on these data, it is thought that aripiprazole has the potential to be used alone or as an adjuvant in the management of neuropathic pain and fibromyalgia. The results obtained from the thesis provide preclinical data that will contribute to new treatment approaches.