Pharmacology of antidepressants: focus on nefazodone.
The past decade has witnessed the introduction of a diverse group of antidepressants from a variety of distinct chemical classes, each with their own specificity for neurochemical transmitters, receptors, and cytochrome P450 isozymes. This review focuses on nefazodone, a distinct antidepressant with efficacy for the treatment of depression with depression-related anxiety symptoms, an established tolerability profile, and a multimodal mechanism of action. Relevant pharmacologic and pharmacodynamic effects are summarized that support nefazodone as an attractive choice for both the short- and long-term treatment of depression.
DeVane
C Lindsay
CL
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston 29425, USA. devanel@musc.edu
Grothe
Dale R
DR
Smith
Sherry L
SL
D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004347:Drug Interactions; D006801:Humans; D010879:Piperazines; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin / Q000187:drug effects; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D012890:Sleep / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D014230:Triazoles / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use
D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation; D010879:Piperazines; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors; D014230:Triazoles; C051752:nefazodone