Dose dependent anxiolytic activity of verapamil in mice in comparison to saline and fluoxetine

To evaluate anxiolytic like effect of Verapamil in mice.

Verapamil was administered at two different doses (10mg and 20mg mg/kg BW) once daily for 9 days to Swiss albino mice of either sex. The anxiolytic activity of control and drug treated mice were recorded by light and dark exploration, marble burying and social interaction method. The anxiolytic effect of verapamil in two doses and in combination with fluoxetine was compared to that of fluoxetine (20 mg/kg BW) administered for 9 successive days.

Combination of both drugs and Verapamil alone produced significant anxiolytic effect at two doses (10mg and 20mg/kg), as indicated by decrease in marble burying, changes in light and dark exploration and increase in social interaction, of drug-treated mice compared to control mice. The efficacy of combinational drugs and Verapamil at 20mg/kg was comparable to that of Fluoxetine, but anxiolytic activity in animals administered with Verapamil 10mg/kg was significantly less as compared to Fluoxetine pre-treated mice.

The results of the present study indicate anxiolytic like activity of Verapamil.