Melatonin receptor agonist agomelatine: a new drug for treating unipolar depression.
Agomelatine markedly differs from other classes of antidepressant drugs: its primary molecular targets in vivo are the melatonin MT(1) and MT(2) receptors, where it acts as a potent agonist, and the 5-HT(2C) receptors, where it exerts clear-cut antagonist properties. Agomelatine across a wide range of clinical trials suggests that agomelatine offers an important alternative for the treatment of depression, combining efficacy, even in the most severely depressed patients, with a favorable side-effect profile. It will be of interest to see if agomelatine expands the spectrum of treatment for unipolar depression. It shows efficacy in acute phase and in of maintenance treatment compared to reference antidepressants as paroxetine and venlafaxine.
EA 3256 Neurobiologie de l'anxiété et de la dépression, Faculté de Médecine, Université de Nantes, France. Michel.Bourin@univ-nantes.fr
Michel
M
Bourin
Corina
C
Prica
D000081:Acetamides / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D006801:Humans; D044122:Receptor, Melatonin, MT1 / Q000819:agonists; D044123:Receptor, Melatonin, MT2 / Q000819:agonists; D058830:Serotonin 5-HT2 Receptor Antagonists; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D009281:Naphthalenes
D000081:Acetamides; D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D044122:Receptor, Melatonin, MT1; D044123:Receptor, Melatonin, MT2; D058830:Serotonin 5-HT2 Receptor Antagonists; C084711:agomelatine; D009281:Naphthalenes