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Vol. 26, Art. 10 (pp. 257-287)    |    2025       

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Clinical studies of the pain-relief effect and safety of flupirtine (Review of literature)

Nikiforov A.S., Ivanov I.M., Yudin M.A., Orlova A.B.

Federal State Budgetary Establishment «State Research Testing Institute of Military Medicine» of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation

Brief summary

Flupirtine is a selective activator of neuronal potassium channels of central action. Taking analgesics and with gradual effectiveness compared to opiates, flupirtine has a lesser effect on the central nervous system, does not suppress the initial or cardiovascular system and does not cause addiction and additive action even with a course of long-term use, unlike promedol and buprenorphine. Flupirtine affects the neurotransmitter systems of the central nervous system (glutamatergic, adrenergic and serotonergic) and has neuroprotective, membrane-stabilizing and hyperpolarizing effects, which cause its central analgesic and anticonvulsant action. Due to the international muscle relaxant effect, the drug is effective in stopping pain caused by the myospasmodic component. At the same time, flupirtine does not have antipyretic and anti-inflammatory properties. Until 2018, the drug was registered in the Russian Federation and was prescribed to relieve acute and chronic pain in muscle spasms, headaches, pain syndrome in malignant neoplasms and post-traumatic pain. Currently, drugs containing flupirtine as an active substance are not registered in the Russian Federation. At the same time, superior data on the effectiveness and tolerability of its pharmacological activity compared to painkillers preferred for use at pre-hospital stages of medical evacuation determine the prospects for classifying it as a probable candidate for combat analgesics.


Key words

flupirtine, clinical studies, pain-relief effect, safety, tolerability.

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