Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Antidepressant Drugs: MAOIs and Other Agents

Antidepressant Drugs: MAOIs and Other Agents

Atypical antidepressants, including bupropion (Wellbutrin), mirtazapine (Remeron), nefazodone (Serzone), trazodone (Desyrel), and vilazodone (Viibryd), offer unique mechanisms of action. Bupropion weakly inhibits dopamine and norepinephrine reuptake, aiding depression treatment and smoking cessation, with a low risk of sexual dysfunction. Mirtazapine enhances serotonin and norepinephrine neurotransmission, leading to sedation, increased appetite, and weight gain. As a result, it helps treat...

Antidepressant Drugs: Tricyclics, SSRIs, and SNRIs

Antidepressant Drugs: Tricyclics, SSRIs, and SNRIs

Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCAs), including Desipramine (Norpramin), Imipramine (Tofranil), Clomipramine (Anafranil), and Amitriptyline (Elavil), inhibit serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake and also block other receptors. They are used for depression, pain conditions, and insomnia. Common adverse effects include anticholinergic effects, sedation, orthostatic hypotension, and weight gain. They have a narrow therapeutic window and so require plasma-level monitoring. Abrupt discontinuation can...

Antidepressant Drugs: Overview

Antidepressant Drugs: Overview

Antidepressant drugs are a class of medications primarily used for treating various mood disorders, including major depression, anxiety disorders, and other related conditions. These medicines work by modulating the neurotransmitter balance within the brain, alleviating depressive symptoms. Antidepressants can be broadly categorized into several groups according to their mechanism of action and chemical structure: Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs), Serotonin-Norepinephrine...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

[Observation on therapeutic effect of electroacupuncture on obesity induced by antipsychotics].

Zhongguo zhen jiu = Chinese acupuncture & moxibustion·2005

Same author

[Assessment on effect of treatment for childhood hyperkinetic syndrome by combined therapy of yizhi mixture and ritalin].

Zhongguo Zhong xi yi jie he za zhi Zhongguo Zhongxiyi jiehe zazhi = Chinese journal of integrated traditional and Western medicine·2003

See all related articles

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 14, 2026

Evaluating the Anti-depression Effect of Xiaoyaosan on Chronically-stressed Mice

Evaluating the Anti-depression Effect of Xiaoyaosan on Chronically-stressed Mice

Published on: January 7, 2019

[Study on Modified Xiaoyao Decoction combining Clomipramine treating depression].

Guo-han Yu¹, Shao-cai Liang, Qi-zhang Sun

¹Guangzhou Hospital of Psychiatry, Guangzhou. yuguohan55@hotmail.com

Zhongguo Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi Zhongguo Zhongxiyi Jiehe Zazhi = Chinese Journal of Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine

|May 29, 2007

Summary

Modified Xiaoyao Decoction combined with clomipramine shows similar efficacy for depression as clomipramine alone. This combination therapy resulted in significantly fewer adverse reactions, offering a potentially safer treatment option for depression.

More Related Videos

Studies on the Anti-Inflammatory Effect of Xiaoyao Pills in The Treatment of Postmenopausal Osteoporosis in Mice

Studies on the Anti-Inflammatory Effect of Xiaoyao Pills in The Treatment of Postmenopausal Osteoporosis in Mice

Published on: August 23, 2024

Network Pharmacology and Validation of the Antidepressant Mechanisms of Qiangzhifang in a Chronic Restraint Stress-induced Depression Rat Model

Network Pharmacology and Validation of the Antidepressant Mechanisms of Qiangzhifang in a Chronic Restraint Stress-induced Depression Rat Model

Published on: June 6, 2025

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 14, 2026

Evaluating the Anti-depression Effect of Xiaoyaosan on Chronically-stressed Mice

Evaluating the Anti-depression Effect of Xiaoyaosan on Chronically-stressed Mice

Published on: January 7, 2019

Studies on the Anti-Inflammatory Effect of Xiaoyao Pills in The Treatment of Postmenopausal Osteoporosis in Mice

Studies on the Anti-Inflammatory Effect of Xiaoyao Pills in The Treatment of Postmenopausal Osteoporosis in Mice

Published on: August 23, 2024

Network Pharmacology and Validation of the Antidepressant Mechanisms of Qiangzhifang in a Chronic Restraint Stress-induced Depression Rat Model

Network Pharmacology and Validation of the Antidepressant Mechanisms of Qiangzhifang in a Chronic Restraint Stress-induced Depression Rat Model

Published on: June 6, 2025

Area of Science:

Integrative Medicine
Psychiatry
Pharmacology

Context:

Depression is a prevalent mood disorder with significant public health implications.
Current antidepressant treatments, like clomipramine, can be associated with dose-limiting adverse effects.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) offers potential complementary therapeutic strategies.

Purpose:

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Modified Xiaoyao Decoction (MXD) in combination with clomipramine for treating depression.
To compare the therapeutic outcomes and adverse reaction profiles of the combination therapy versus clomipramine monotherapy.

Summary:

A randomized controlled trial involving 105 depression patients compared MXD plus low-dose clomipramine (25-50 mg/d) against high-dose clomipramine (75-225 mg/d) monotherapy over 8 weeks.
Both groups showed significant improvement in depression scores (Hamilton Depression Scale), with no statistically significant difference between the combination therapy and monotherapy groups.
The combination group experienced notably fewer adverse reactions, primarily dry mouth and constipation, compared to the monotherapy group which reported a wider range of side effects including dizziness and prolonged Q-T interval.

Impact:

The findings suggest that combining MXD with clomipramine is a viable treatment for depression, offering comparable efficacy to standard clomipramine treatment.
This combined approach may improve patient adherence and quality of life by reducing the incidence and severity of adverse drug reactions.
Highlights the potential of integrating TCM herbal formulas with conventional pharmacotherapy for managing complex conditions like depression.