ORPHENADRINE–DICLOFENAC

Background: Pain and inflammation remain major health concerns that reduce quality of life despite many available treatments. Diclofenac, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, and orphenadrine, a centrally acting muscle relaxant, target different pain pathways. This study investigates whether their combined use enhances analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects, offering a safer and more effective approach to pain management. Method: Twenty-four Swiss albino mice were divided into four groups to receive saline, diclofenac (50 mg/kg), orphenadrine (25 mg/kg) and ophenadrine-diclofenac (25 mg/kg-50 mg/kg). Analgesic effects were assessed using the acetic acid–induced writhing and hole- board tests, while COX inhibition was evaluated using the quantitative polymerase chain reaction assay. Data were expressed as Mean ± SEM and analyzed using one-way ANOVA, with significance set at p < 0.05. Result: Diclofenac (1.67 ± 0.76), orphenadrine (2.17 ± 0.95), and their combination (0.00 ± 0.00) significantly reduced writhes compared to control (6.00 ± 1.53; p < 0.05). COX-2 levels were markedly lower in diclofenac (88.32 ± 1.18), orphenadrine (27.59 ± 2.26), and combination (68.30 ± 1.43) treated groups versus control (95.26 ± 1.88). In the hole-board test, the combination group (24.33 ± 1.59) maintained head dips comparable to the control group. Conclusion: Diclofenac and orphenadrine provide complementary pain relief, with diclofenac acting peripherally and orphenadrine centrally. Their combination synergistically abolished writhing, balanced COX-2 activity, and preserved normal exploratory behaviour. These results highlight the diclofenac–orphenadrine combination as an effective multimodal analgesic that enhances pain control while supporting central function.