Flupirtine is a representative of a class of medicines for selective activators of neuronal potassium channels and refers to non-opioid analgesics of central action that are not addictive and addictive.
Flupirtine activates the Gprotein neuronal K+ channels of internal rectification. The yield of ions K+ causes stabilization of the resting potential and a decrease in the excitability of neuronal membranes. As a result, indirect inhibition of receptors NMDA (N-metil-D-aspartat), since the blockade of receptors NMDA ions Mg2+ remains until the cell membrane depolarization occurs (an indirect antagonistic effect on the NMDA-receptors).
In therapeutic doses flupirtine does not bind to alpha and alpha2- adrenergic receptors, serotonin (5NT1, 5NT2), dopamine, benzodiazepine, opioid receptors and central m- and n-choline receptors.
Such a central action of flupirtine leads to the realization of three main effects.
Analgesic action flupirtine is associated with the activation of potential-independent potassium channels, which leads to stabilization of the membrane potential of the nerve cell. This inhibits the activity NMDA-receptors and, as a consequence, blockade of neuronal ion channels of calcium and decrease in intracellular current of calcium cations. The analgesic effect is manifested due to the developing suppression of neuron excitation in response to nociceptive stimuli and inhibition of nociceptive activation.This leads to inhibition of the growth of the neuronal response to repeated pain stimuli, which prevents the increase of pain and its transition to a chronic form, and with the already developed chronic pain syndrome leads to a decrease in its intensity.
Miorelaksiruyuschee action flupirtine is associated with the blocking of excitation transfer to motoneurons and intermediate neurons, leading to the removal of muscle tension. This action flupirtina manifests itself in many chronic diseases, accompanied by painful muscle spasms (musculoskeletal pain in the neck and back, arthropathy, tension headaches, fibromyalgia). Flupirtine eliminates the muscle tone associated with pain, while not affecting the state of other muscles.
Effect on Chronification Processes. Since the functions of neurons are characterized by plasticity, development of chronification processes, that is, processes of neuronal conduction, associated with the induction of intracellular processes, is possible. At the same time, the response to each subsequent pulse is amplified, and NMDA receptors participate in the regulation of the expression of the involved genes.Therefore, the indirect inhibition of these receptors in the administration of flupirtine helps suppress the effects of chronic processes. Thus, for clinically significant development of chronic pain syndrome under the influence of flupirtine, unfavorable conditions are created, and in the case of already observed chronic pain, the stabilization of the membrane potential leads to a decrease in pain sensitivity and "erasure" of pain memory.
Also for flupirtine a specific neuroprotective effect is associated with its ability to cause blockade of neuronal ionic calcium channels, which causes the protection of nervous structures from the toxic effect of high concentrations of intracellular calcium cations.