Study Of Analgesic Effect Of Venlafaxine Loaded Microneedle Patch In Neuropathic Pain In Rat

Neuropathic pain (NP) conditions develop due to disorders resulting from damage or disease of the central or peripheral nervous system or both. Venlafaxine is a serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor prescribed for management peripheral diabetic neuropathy. In the present study, the effect of microneedle patch on hyperalgesia in rat was studied using thermal hyperalgesia, a mild thermal injury was induced to the plantar surface of the right hind paw of rat.The microneedle patches exhibited sharp needles, the patch was white, homogenous and opaque with surface pH of 5.58 and of 97.18%. The results obtained from the study reveal that microneedle patches could be easily prepared and exhibited a sustained effect in decreased hyperalgesia in thermally induced hyperalgesia in rats. The microneedle patches were able to significantly improve PWL for duration longer than the conventionally administered first line agent gabapentin.