Antidepressant Agents

Antidepressant agents
By
Bohlooli S., Ph.D.
School of Medicine, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences
Introduction
 The diagnosis of depression still rests primarily on the clinical
interview
 Antidepressant drugs were the most commonly prescribed
medications in the USA
Definition of Depression
 “An affective disorder characterized by loss of interest or pleasure in

almost all a person’s usual activities or pastimes.”
Symptoms Associated With
Depression
 Sadness, Despair, Guilt, Pessimism

 Decrease in energy
 Decrease in sex drive
 Insomnia and fatigue
 Thoughts of death and suicide
 Mental slowing, lack of concentration
Treatment of Depression
 Antidepressant Pharmacology
 First introduced 50 years ago
 Also used for treatment of other disorders including:
-Anxiety disorders, dysthymia, chronic pain and behavioral problems
Treatment (con’t)
Evolution of drug therapy

 Antidepressants discovered accidentally while investigating
antipsychotic efficacy of modifications of phenothiazines
 Imipramine - first antidepressant discovered
 Around the same time, monoamine oxidase inhibitors were
identified
 Second generation antidepressants identified to address
problems with first generation antidepressants
 Late 1980’s- SSRI’s were developed
 Now working on other antidepressant treatments
Pathophysiology of Major
Depression
 Monoamine hypothesis
 Deficiency in the amount or function of cortical and limbic
serotonin (5-HT), norepinephrine (NE), and dopamine (DA).
 Neurotrophic hypothesis
 Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) are critical in the
regulation of neural plasticity, resilience, and neurogenesis
The neurotrophic
hypothesis of
major depression
The amine
hypothesis
of major
depression
Basic Pharmacology of
Antidepressants
Chemistry and Subgroups
 Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors
 Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors
 Selective Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs)
 Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs)
 5-HT2 Antagonists
 Tetracyclic and Unicyclic Antidepressants
 Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors
Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors
Selective Serotonin-Norepinephrine
Reuptake Inhibitors
Tricyclic Antidepressants
5-HT2 Antagonists
Tetracyclic and Unicyclic Antidepressants
Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors
Antidepressant ACh M 1 H1 5-HT2 NET SERT
Amitriptyline +++ +++ ++ 0/+ + ++
Amoxapine + ++ + +++ ++ +
Bupropion 0 0 0 0 0/+ 0
Citalopram, escitalopram 0 0 0 0 +++
Clomipramine + ++ + + ++ +++
Desipramine + + + 0/+ +++ +
Doxepin ++ +++ +++ 0/+ + +
Antidepress
Fluoxetine 0 0 0 0/+ 0 +++
Fluvoxamine 0 0 0 0 0 +++
ant Effects
Imipramine ++ + + 0/+ + ++ on Several
Maprotiline + + ++ 0/+ ++ 0 Receptors
Mirtazapine 0 0 +++ + + 0
and
Nefazodone 0 + 0 ++ 0/+ +
Nortriptyline + + + + ++ +
Transporters
Paroxetine + 0 0 0 + +++
Protriptyline +++ + + + +++ +

Sertraline 0 0 0 0 0 +++
Trazodone 0 ++ 0/+ ++ 0 +
Trimipramine ++ ++ +++ 0/+ 0 0
Venlafaxine 0 0 0 0 + ++
Tricyclic Antidepressants
 Effectively relieve depression with anxiolytic and analgesic
action
 First choice for treatment of depression
 Pharmacological properties
Block presynaptic NE reuptake transporter
Block presynaptic 5-HT reuptake transporter
Block postsynaptic histamine receptors
Block postsynaptic ACh receptors
Imipramine and Amitriptyline
 Prototypical TCAs
 Desipramine– pharmacologically active intermediate metabolite of
imipramine
 Nortriptyline– an active intermediate metabolite of amitriptyline
Clinical Limitations of TCA’s
 Slow onset of action
 Wide variety of effects on CNS (adverse side effects):
 Can directly impair attention, motor speed, dexterity,
and memory
 Cardiotoxic and potentially fatal in overdoses
Pharmacokinetics
 Well absorbed upon oral administration

 Relatively long half-lives
 Metabolized in the liver
 Converted into intermediates that are later detoxified
 Readily cross the placenta
Pharmacological Effects of TCA’s
 In CNS: blocks presynaptic 5-HT, DA and NE receptors
 Blocking of ACh receptors leads to dry mouth, confusion,
blurry vision and mental confusion
 Blocking of histamine receptors leads to drowsiness and
sedation
 Effects on the PNS include: cardiac depression, increased
electrical irritability,
Second Generation (Atypical)
Antidepressants
 Developed in the late 1970’s and 1980’s

 Maprotiline – one of the first clinically available
antidepressants, has a long half life and blocks NE
reuptake
 Amoxapine – primarily a NE reuptake inhibitor
 Trazodone – not a potent blocker of NE or 5-HT, its active
metabolite blocks a subclass of 5-HT receptors
 Bupropion – selectively inhibits DA reuptake, side effects
include: anxiety, restlessness, tremors, and insomnia
Cont’d
Clomipramine – structurally a TCA but exerts

inhibitory effects on 5-HT reuptake
 Desmethyclomipramine – active metabolite;
classified as a mixed 5-HT and NE reuptake inhibitor
 Used to treat OCD, depression, panic disorder and phobic disorders
Venlafaxine – also a mixed 5-HT and NE
reuptake inhibitor
 Also inhibits the reuptake of DA
 Produces improvements in psychomotor and
cognitive function
Serotonin - Specific Reuptake
Inhibitors (SSRI’s)
 Available for the past 25 years

 Allows for more serotonin to be available to stimulate postsynaptic
receptors
 Available to treat depression, anxiety disorders, ADHD, obesity,
alcohol abuse, childhood anxiety, etc.
SSRI’s
 Fluoxetine– first SSRI available, long half life, slow
onset of action, can cause sexual dysfunction, anxiety,
insomnia and agitation
 Sertraline– second SSRI approved, low risk of toxicity,
few interactions, more selective and potent than
Fluoxetine
 Paroxetine– third SSRI available, more selective than
Fluoxetine, highly effective in reducing anxiety and
posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as well as OCD,
panic disorder, social phobia, premenstrual dysphoric
disorder, and chronic headache
SSRI’s
Fluvoxamine– structural derivative of Fluoxetine,

became available for OCD, also treats PTSD,
dysphoria, panic disorder, and social phobia
Citalopram– well absorbed orally, few drug
interactions, treats major depression, social
phobia, panic disorder and OCD
SSRIs
Serotonin syndrome
 At high doses or combined with other drugs an exaggerated
response can occur
 This is due to increased amounts of serotonin
 Alters cognitive function, autonomic function and neuromuscular
function
 Potentially fatal
Serotonin withdrawal syndrome
 With discontinuation of any SSRI onset of withdrawal symptoms
occur within a few days and can persist 3-4 weeks
 Symptoms: disequilibrium, gastrointestinal problems, flu-like
symptoms, sensory disturbances, sleep disturbances
Dual Action Antidepressants
 Nefazodone – a unique antidepressant, resembles a TCA as

an inhibitor of 5-HT and NE reuptake, no therapeutic
superiority over TCA’s and SSRI’s
 Mirtazapine – increases noradrenergic and serotonergic
neurotransmission by blocking the central alpha
autoreceptors and heteroreceptors, a potent antagonist,
rapidly absorbed orally
Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors
(MAOI’s)
 Long acting, irreversible inhibitors of monoamine
oxidase
 Have been used since the 1950’s but have a
controversial past
 Has potential for serious side effects and potentially
fatal interactions with other drugs and food
 MAO is one of two enzymes that break down
neurotransmitters 5-HT and NE
 Two types
 MAO-A: inhibition causes antidepressant activity
 MAO-B: inhibition causes side effects
Irreversible MAOI’s
Nonselective: block both A and B types
Form a permanent chemical bond with part of
the MAO enzyme (enzyme function returns
only as new enzyme is biosynthesized)
Have a rapid rate of elimination, excess drug is
rapidly metabolized
Inhibition occurs slowly
 Ex: phenelzine ,tranylcypomine, isocarboxazid
Reversible MAOI’s
 not available in the U.S. yet
 Highly selective in inhibiting MAO-A
 Much safer than irreversible MAOI’s
 Side effects are minimal
 Ex: Brofaromine, Pirlindole, Toloxatone, and Moclobemide
New Drug Treatments
COMT inhibitors – second of two enzymes that
catalyze the inactivation of DA and NE by
decreasing neurotransmitter levels
 Tolcapone – specific inhibitor of COMT used in
treatment of Parkinson’s
SNRI – soon to be available for clinical use
 Reboxetine – first of its kind to block NE reuptake
without also blocking DA or 5-HT reuptake
Serotonin 5-HT1 Agonists – appear to be
responsible for acute antidepressant effects
Clinical Pharmacology of
Antidepressants
 Depression
 Anxiety Disorders
 Pain Disorders
 Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder
 Smoking Cessation
 Eating Disorders
 Other Uses for Antidepressants
 Enuresis in children
 Urinary stress incontinence
 Vasomotor symptoms in perimenopause
 Sexual disorders
Choosing an Antidepressant
 Depends first on the indication
 It is difficult to demonstrate that one antidepressant is
consistently more effective than another
 Rests primarily on practical considerations
 Cost
 Availability
 Adverse effects
 Potential drug interactions
 The patient's history of response or lack
 Patient preference
 At present, SSRIs are the most commonly prescribed first-
line agents

Antidepressant Agents

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Antidepressant Agents

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Antidepressant Agents

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Antidepressant agents

 “An affective disorder characterized by loss of interest or pleasure in

 Sadness, Despair, Guilt, Pessimism

Evolution of drug therapy

Amitriptyline +++ +++ ++ 0/+ + ++

Protriptyline +++ + + + +++ +

 Well absorbed upon oral administration

 Developed in the late 1970’s and 1980’s

Clomipramine – structurally a TCA but exerts

 Available for the past 25 years

Fluvoxamine– structural derivative of Fluoxetine,

 Nefazodone – a unique antidepressant, resembles a TCA as

You might also like