Electroacupuncture Enhances the Antiallodynic and Antihyperalgesic Effects of Milnacipran in Neuropathic Rats.

Background: Milnacipran, a selective serotonin/norepinephrine-reuptake inhibitor, has been shown to elicit a beneficial effect in various models of neuropathic pain. Previously, we reported that repetitive electroacupuncture (EA) significantly ameliorates neuropathic pain induced by L5 spinal nerve ligation (SNL). In the present study, we sought to determine whether a single treatment with EA produces analgesia and whether EA in combination with a subeffective dosage of milnacipran exhibits an additive effect in SNL rats.