Cardiovascular drugs in human mechanical nociception: digoxin, amlodipine, propranolol, pindolol and atenolol.

Calcium channel blockers, beta adrenergic receptor blockers and Na/K ATPase inhibitors are widely used drugs, mainly for cardiovascular diseases. Their pharmacological targets are not restricted to the cardivascular tissue, nociceptive system structures also express similar targets, which strongly suggests a direct effect on pain sensation. To evaluate the pain intensity changes in outpatient groups, who receive these drugs as a therapy, a cross-sectional sampled, randomized patient groups receiving the calcium channel blocker amlodipine for blood hypertension (n=45), beta adrenergic receptor blockers (propranolol, atenolol or pindolol; n=40) for blood hypertension, or digoxin (n=40) for heart failure, were compared to an aparently healthy volunteers control group (n=60).