Analgesic and Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Cele coxib in the Presence of Lithium Carbonate Using the Formalin Test in Albino Mice

Abstract

Drug-drug interactions occur when a drug’s effect on the body changes in the presence of another drug. Drug-drug interactions
can be either pharmacokinetic or pharmacodynamic. The clinical consequences of drug-drug interactions could lead to reduced
efficacy or increased toxicity. Lithium carbonate is a monovalent cation with a narrow therapeutic index. Lithium is a first
line treatment for Bipolar Affective Disorder. Celecoxib is a selective COX-2 non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, which
is responsible for prostaglandin synthesis, an integral part of the pain and inflammation pathway.
It is indicated in conditions like osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, acute pain, and familial adenomatous polyposis. This work
aims to investigate the effects of lithium carbonate on the analgesic and anti-inflammatory action of celecoxib by applying a
formalin test using albino mice.
Mice were divided into 6 groups. Group 1 (control) administered 1% tween 80 at a dose of 5ml/kg; group 2 received celecoxib
(50mg/kg); group 3 received lithium carbonate (10 mg/kg); while group 4 received lithium carbonate (50mg/kg); group 5 received
combined treatment of lithium carbonate (10mg/kg) with celecoxib; while group 6 received combined treatment of lithium carbonate
(50mg/kg) with celecoxib. Drugs used in mice as a standard, Tramadol (5 mg/kg) for phase I (analgesic), and Acetylsalicylic acid
(200 mg/kg) for phase II (anti-inflammatory), for the formalin test. All drugs were injected subacutely (three doses); mice were
intraperitoneally administered at 24, 5, and 1 hours before scoring. All drugs were administered as a suspension in 1% Tween 80. It
was injected in a volume of 5ml/kg. All drugs were prepared freshly before use. Celecoxib exerts analgesic and anti-inflammatory
effects as it decreases the duration of licking in both early and late phases after s.c. administration of formalin in the left hind paw.
Lithium carbonate exerts analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects, and it decreased the duration of licking in both the early and late
phases after s.c. administration of formalin in the left hind paw. The combined treatment of lithium and celecoxib has analgesic and
anti-inflammatory action, but less than the additive effect; both partially antagonize each other.
Conclusion: Celecoxib and lithium carbonate each produce analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects. Lithium in the presence
of celecoxib, and as a result of celecoxib›s effect on the renal system, lithium may partially act as a proinflammatory and
nociceptive agent. Understanding and managing drug interactions is critical for optimizing patient outcomes and minimizing
risks associated with pharmacotherapy