The antimigraine drug ergotamine is endowed with anti-hyperalgesic activity

The potential analgesic activity of ergotamine was investigated in a model of hyperalgesia induced by morphine withdrawal. Ergotamine, at a dose of 0.01 mg/kg s.c., did not increase the pain threshold in control mice but was able, 30 min after injection, to completely prevent the hyperalgesia induced by morphine withdrawal. At a dose 10 times lower, ergotamine did not produce any effect. Abstinent mice did not show any impairment of motor coordination as revealed by the rota rod test. These results indicate that ergotamine exerts an antihyperalgesic effect in laboratory animals at a dose comparable to that effective in aborting migraine attacks in humans.