Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 4, 2026
04:29
Vagus Nerve Stimulation As an Adjunctive Neurostimulation Tool in Treatment-resistant Depression
Published on: January 7, 2019
31.9K
Agomelatine versus other antidepressive agents for major depression
Giuseppe Guaiana1, Sumeet Gupta, Debbie Chiodo
1Department of Psychiatry, Western University, Saint Thomas Elgin General Hospital, 189 Elm Street, St Thomas, Ontario, Canada, N5R 5C4.
The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews
|December 18, 2013
Summary
Agomelatine (an antidepressant) showed similar efficacy to other antidepressants for major depressive disorder but was better tolerated than some. However, low study quality limits firm conclusions on its effectiveness and tolerability.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacology
- Psychiatry
- Clinical Trials
Background:
- Major depressive disorder (MDD) requires novel, well-tolerated antidepressants.
- Agomelatine is a novel antidepressant targeting melatonergic and serotonergic receptors.
Purpose of the Study:
- Compare agomelatine's efficacy and acceptability against other antidepressants for MDD.
- Investigate agomelatine's adverse effects in adults.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing agomelatine to other antidepressants.
- Searched multiple databases (CENTRAL, EMBASE, MEDLINE, PsycINFO) up to July 2013.
- Extracted data on efficacy, acceptability, and tolerability.
Main Results:
- Agomelatine demonstrated comparable efficacy to SSRIs and venlafaxine for treatment response and remission.
- Agomelatine showed better tolerability than venlafaxine, with fewer dropouts and less dizziness.
- Moderate risk of bias and heterogeneity were noted, with potential limitations in generalizability to primary care settings.
Conclusions:
- Agomelatine offers no significant efficacy advantage over existing antidepressants for acute MDD.
- While better tolerated than some agents, limited data and low study quality prevent definitive conclusions.
- Further high-quality research is needed to establish agomelatine's role in depression treatment.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:23Antidepressant Drugs: MAOIs and Other Agents
1.3K
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...
1.3K
01:25Antidepressant Drugs: Overview
2.1K
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...
2.1K
01:28Antidepressant Drugs: Tricyclics, SSRIs, and SNRIs
2.3K
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...
2.3K
01:17Sedatives and Hypnotics Drugs: Miscellaneous Agents
981
Sedatives and hypnotics encompass a wide range of substances, each with its unique mechanism of action, uses, and potential adverse effects.
Melatonin congeners like ramelteon (Rozerem) and tasimelteon (Hetlioz) selectively bind to melatonin receptors (MT1 and MT2) and thus mimic the actions of melatonin, a hormone that regulates sleep-wake cycles. Tasimelteon is primarily used for non-24-hour sleep-wake disorder, common in blind patients. They are also used to treat conditions like insomnia...
Melatonin congeners like ramelteon (Rozerem) and tasimelteon (Hetlioz) selectively bind to melatonin receptors (MT1 and MT2) and thus mimic the actions of melatonin, a hormone that regulates sleep-wake cycles. Tasimelteon is primarily used for non-24-hour sleep-wake disorder, common in blind patients. They are also used to treat conditions like insomnia...
981
01:23Drugs Affecting GI Tract Motility: Serotonin Receptor Agonists
1.4K
Serotonin, a crucial neurotransmitter synthesized by enterochromaffin cells, plays a cardinal role in regulating gastrointestinal (GI) motility. With over 90% of the body's total serotonin in the GI tract, its influence on digestive processes is profound. Serotonin is swiftly released upon various stimuli, such as food boluses or certain drugs, triggering intrinsic sensory neurons in the myenteric plexus and extrinsic vagal and spinal sensory neurons. This leads to the activation of the...
1.4K
01:21G-protein Coupled Receptors
91.4K
G-protein coupled receptors are ligand binding receptors that indirectly affect changes in the cell. The actual receptor is a single polypeptide that transverses the cell membrane seven times creating intracellular and extracellular loops. The extracellular loops create a ligand specific pocket which binds to neurotransmitters or hormones. The intracellular loops holds onto the G-protein.
91.4K