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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
[email protected]Shown: posts 1 to 12 of 12. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Abby Cunningham on November 19, 2007, at 0:04:33
http://www.drugresearcher.com/news/printNewsBis.asp?id=63465
I am debating whether to try this brand new antidepressant whch has been developed in Europe but is now available for open label testing here.
It is supposed to have many new benefits, such as no side effects to speak of, but will be similar to the action of Effexor, except no discontinuation symptoms or sexual side effects. I know others on this board have expressed interest in Valdoxan (agomelatine) and I'm happy to let you know it is now available for trials here in the US. Ask your doctor if interested.
I will let you know if I decide to try it. (Scared of trying new medications).Here is the link to one of the inquiries on this board:
Posted by rvanson on November 19, 2007, at 2:43:21
In reply to New melatonergic antidepressant in USA trials now, posted by Abby Cunningham on November 19, 2007, at 0:04:33
> http://www.drugresearcher.com/news/printNewsBis.asp?id=63465
>
> I am debating whether to try this brand new antidepressant whch has been developed in Europe but is now available for open label testing here.
>
> It is supposed to have many new benefits, such as no side effects to speak of, but will be similar to the action of Effexor, except no discontinuation symptoms or sexual side effects. I know others on this board have expressed interest in Valdoxan (agomelatine) and I'm happy to let you know it is now available for trials here in the US. Ask your doctor if interested.
> I will let you know if I decide to try it. (Scared of trying new medications).
>
> Here is the link to one of the inquiries on this board:
>
> http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20050404/msgs/479920.htmlUC Davis medical in Sacramento is doing a study of Agomelatine and needs participants for the study, FWIW.
Posted by linkadge on November 19, 2007, at 15:20:42
In reply to Re: New melatonergic antidepressant in USA trials » Abby Cunningham, posted by rvanson on November 19, 2007, at 2:43:21
I can image that this substance would be kinder on the body than existing therapies.
Linkadge
Posted by yxibow on November 20, 2007, at 1:10:11
In reply to Re: New melatonergic antidepressant in USA trials, posted by linkadge on November 19, 2007, at 15:20:42
> I can image that this substance would be kinder on the body than existing therapies.
>
> LinkadgeHormones have unpredictable affects on depression, no drug is without side effects although it is not proven to have major effects on the HPA axis.
Posted by Abby Cunningham on November 20, 2007, at 10:47:07
In reply to Re: New melatonergic antidepressant in USA trials » linkadge, posted by yxibow on November 20, 2007, at 1:10:11
I just spoke to someone at the university (UMass) and she said that not only can you not see your therapist during the time; you may not take any other psychotropic medication, so that does it for me. They will wean you off other meds. I cannot come off my xanax (20+ years) or my wellbutrin SR, so guess I won't be in the study unless my pdoc talks me into it.
BTW, the woman at the uni told me it is last phase of the trials of valdoxan and it hopefully will be FDA approved for prescriptions in 1 1/2 years. So that is hopeful at least, and there are other meds which are similar. This Valdoxan is supposed to be a blockbuster drug by the year 2010, raking in megabillions for this drug company, ?Norvatis I believe.
Posted by linkadge on November 20, 2007, at 18:08:04
In reply to Re: New melatonergic antidepressant in USA trials » linkadge, posted by yxibow on November 20, 2007, at 1:10:11
I can agree with that. I just think that SSRI's and SNRI's are toxic in general.
From its profile, it seems like it might induce less collateral dammage.
As a melatonin agonist, its not really a hormone.
That doesn't mean it won't inteact with hormones though.
Linkadge
Posted by Netch on November 21, 2007, at 7:55:26
In reply to Re: New melatonergic antidepressant in USA trials, posted by linkadge on November 20, 2007, at 18:08:04
The drug seems very promising... especially since it improves sleep contrary to other AD.
/Netch
Posted by Phillipa on November 21, 2007, at 12:55:18
In reply to Re: New melatonergic antidepressant in USA trials, posted by Abby Cunningham on November 20, 2007, at 10:47:07
Abby you just answered the question I asked in your about thread about the therapist. Phillipa
Posted by mikez on November 21, 2007, at 14:54:46
In reply to Re: New melatonergic antidepressant in USA trials, posted by linkadge on November 20, 2007, at 18:08:04
Im wondering, would antagonism at 5ht2c be enough to cause an antidepressant response? Would someone (Linkadge?) be able to shed some light on what this achieves? I like the look of the drug anyway and really hope it takes off. But im wondering will it have enough antidepressant efficacy. And why would they have declined its approval in Europe for lack of efficacy :(
Posted by linkadge on November 21, 2007, at 19:10:14
In reply to Re: New melatonergic antidepressant in USA trials, posted by mikez on November 21, 2007, at 14:54:46
It has moderate affinity for 5-ht2c, which might increase slow wave sleep. It might supress REM sleep which could account for AD effect.
The 5-ht2c antagonism could also account for antidepressant effect. I would also think such antagonism could possibly improve aspects of mania, or schizophrenia as well.
I have a feeling that it will work very well for some people but not well for others. It might work well as a Remeron type of drug with fewer side effects.
I don't think it will work for everbody though.
Linkadge
Posted by Sigismund on November 22, 2007, at 14:25:39
In reply to Re: New melatonergic antidepressant in USA trials, posted by linkadge on November 21, 2007, at 19:10:14
>It might work well as a Remeron type of drug with fewer side effects.
That'd be good for me.
Posted by pstrait on November 26, 2007, at 2:48:43
In reply to Re: New melatonergic antidepressant in USA trials, posted by mikez on November 21, 2007, at 14:54:46
RE: why is it a good idea to antagonize 5ht2c receptors
This abstract offers a theory of why 5ht2c antagonism is so important, including an explanation of why, under this theory, SSRIs work (and why they take weeks to work even though they are present in your brain more quickly and have non-AD effects more quickly).
I don't have immediate access to this journal but I am going to ILL it.
This may be promising for those who would benefit from Remeron/mirtazapine but can't deal with the weight gain etc. (unless of course those side effects are a direct consequence of 5ht2c antagonism -- but remeron also antagonizes 5ht2a, as well as alpha-2).
Also, if this does work well, it is pretty promising for some of the 5h52c inverse agonists in the works
Serotonin 5-HT2C receptors as a target for the treatment of depressive and anxious states: focus on novel therapeutic strategies.
by
Millan MJ.
Institut de Recherches Servier,
Croissy-sur-Seine, France.
[email protected]
Therapie. 2005 Sep-Oct;60(5):441-60.ABSTRACT
Serotonin (5-HT)2C receptors play an important role in the modulation of monoaminergic transmission, mood, motor behaviour, appetite and endocrine secretion, and alterations in their functional status have been detected in anxiodepressive states. Further, 5-HT2C sites are involved in the actions of several classes of antidepressant. At the onset of treatment, indirect activation of 5-HT2C receptors participates in the anxiogenic effects of selective 5-HT reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) as well as their inhibition of sleep, sexual behaviour and appetite. Conversely, progressive down-regulation of 5-HT2C receptors parallels the gradual onset of clinical efficacy of SSRIs. Other antidepressants, such as nefazodone or mirtazapine, act as direct antagonists of 5-HT2C receptors. These observations underpin interest in 5-HT2C receptor blockade as a strategy for treating depressive and anxious states. This notion is supported by findings that 5-HT2C receptor antagonists stimulate dopaminergic and adrenergic pathways, exert antidepressant and anxiolytic actions in behavioural paradigms, and favour sleep and sexual function. In addition to selective antagonists, novel strategies for exploitation of 5-HT2C receptors embrace inverse agonists, allosteric modulators, ligands of homo/heterodimers, modulators of interactions with 'postsynaptic proteins', dual melatonin agonists/5-HT2C receptor antagonists and mixed 5-HT2C/alpha2-adrenergic antagonists. Intriguingly, there is evidence that stimulation of regionally discrete populations of 5-HT2C receptors is effective in certain behavioural models of antidepressant activity, and promotes neurogenesis in the hippocampus. This article explains how these ostensibly paradoxical actions of 5-HT2C antagonists and agonists can be reconciled and discusses both established and innovative strategies for the exploitation of 5-HT2C receptors in the improved management of depressed and anxious states.
This is the end of the thread.
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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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