Novel mechanism of antidepressant action: norepinephrine and dopamine disinhibition (NDDI) plus melatonergic agonism

摘要

All known antidepressants enhance monoamine neurotransmission, and most do so by blocking one or more of the reuptake transporters for serotonin, norepinephrine and/or dopamine (Stahl, 2000). Now comes agomelatine, a new agent that enhances norepinephrine and dopamine neurotransmission by a unique mechanism, namely 5-HT_2C antagonism (Millan et al., 2003; Millan, 2005). Agomelatine is also a direct agonist at melatonin 1 (MT₁) and MT₂ receptors and a 5-HT_2B antagonist (Millan et al., 2003).