The authors examine the pharmacological characteristics, distribution and clinical effects of natural (somatostatin) and synthetic (octreotide) growth hormone release inhibitors (GHRIH). They mainly discuss the analgesic effect of these substances using intraspinal, epidural and subarachnoid administration. The intraspinal use of somatostatin and its synthetic analog, octreotide, are not without risks: among these, it is worth recalling the neurotoxic and vasomotor effects. Further studies may more clearly define these and other secondary effects and also the real indications for these drugs in the context of analgesics for intraspinal use. It is hypothesised that somatostatin and octreotide, owing to their analgesic capacities, may replace the intraspinal administration of opioids in a number of clearly defined clinical conditions, such as severe pain in which opioids are contraindicated.