Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors and Their Role in Chronic Pain Management

Serotonin has a particular place in the modulation of pain. Experimental studies have described 5-HT1–7 receptors and their effects on facilitation or inhibition of nociceptive input. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotoninnorepinephrine reuptake inhibitors showed efficient and safer than tricyclic antidepressants in neuropathic pain. Although there is evidence regarding the beneficial impact of SSRIs in the multimodal acute pain management, studies are still searching for the potentially favorable effect of these drugs in the prevention of chronic postoperative pain. The scope of this chapter would be to update the knowledge regarding serotonin involving in pain pathways and to highlight the importance and contribution of serotonin reuptake inhibitors in the multimodal pain management schemes.