Agomelatine as an Antidepressant
Sleep disturbances are common among people that suffer from depression. Melatonin plays a major role in the regulation of sleep (1) and serotonin neurotransmission is a key target of many antidepressants. Thus, drugs that properly modify melatonin and serotonin signaling may yield an antidepressant that effectively treats more than one symptom of depression. Agomelatine (a.k.a. S-20098) represents the first generation of this atypical melatonergic/serotonergic class of antidepressants.
Agomelatine activates melatonin receptors (2, 3) and inhibits the serotonin 5-HT2C receptor (4). Preliminary clinical trials of Agomelatine for the treatment of depression have received favorable reviews in recent scientific publications (5, 6). In addition, there is also evidence that agomelatine causes anti-anxiety (anxiolytic) effects in animal models of anxiety (7). The pharmacological and behavioral properties of agomelatine warrant additional investigation as an effective alternative to other classes of antidepressants.
REFERENCES
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(3) Armstrong SM, McNulty OM, Guardiola-Lemaitre B, Redman JR. (1993) Successful use of S20098 and melatonin in an animal model of delayed sleep-phase syndrome (DSPS). Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior 46:45-9.
(4) Millan MJ, Gobert A, Lejeune F, Dekeyne A, Newman-Tancredi A, Pasteau V, Rivet JM, Cussac D. (2003) The novel melatonin agonist agomelatine (S20098) is an antagonist at 5-hydroxytryptamine2C receptors, blockade of which enhances the activity of frontocortical dopaminergic and adrenergic pathways. Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics 306:954-64.
(5) Montgomery SA. (2006) Major depressive disorders: clinical efficacy and tolerability of agomelatine, a new melatonergic agonist. European Neuropsychopharmacology 16 Supplement 5:S633-8.
(6) Kupfer DJ. (2006) Depression and associated sleep disturbances: patient benefits with agomelatine. European Neuropsychopharmacology 16 Supplement 5:S639-43.
(7) Papp M, Litwa E, Gruca P, Mocaer E. (2006) Anxiolytic-like activity of agomelatine and melatonin in three animal models of anxiety. Behavioral Pharmacology 17:9-18.