title: From obesity to substance abuse: therapeutic opportunities for 5-HT2C receptor agonists.
abstract: The recent US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of the serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) 5-HT2C receptor agonist lorcaserin for the treatment of obesity represents a new therapeutic drug class available to the clinic. Preclinical evidence supports the potential for this drug class to treat other related conditions such as substance abuse. In the present article we review this evidence and further suggest that overlapping neurobiological systems may contribute to an anti-addictive and anti-obesity profile. The availability of selective 5-HT2C agonists provides an opportunity to evaluate their potential as treatments for nicotine dependence or psychostimulant abuse, conditions for which there is significant medical need but only limited available treatment options.
authors.affiliation: InterVivo Solutions Inc, 120 Carlton Street, Toronto, ON M5A 4K2, Canada; Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada. Electronic address: guyh@intervivo.com.
authors.forename: Guy A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Higgins
authors.forename: Edward M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Sellers
authors.forename: Paul J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Fletcher
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001552:Benzazepines / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D009765:Obesity / Q000188:drug therapy*; D044405:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2C / Q000378:metabolism*; D058826:Serotonin 5-HT2 Receptor Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D001552:Benzazepines; D044405:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2C; D058826:Serotonin 5-HT2 Receptor Agonists; C506658:lorcaserin
keywords: addiction; lorcaserin; obesity; serotonin