Agomelatine beyond Borders: Current Evidences of Its Efficacy in Disorders Other than Major Depression

• Main Authors: Domenico De Berardis, Michele Fornaro, Nicola Serroni, Daniela Campanella, Gabriella Rapini, Luigi Olivieri, Venkataramanujam Srinivasan, Felice Iasevoli, Carmine Tomasetti, Andrea De Bartolomeis, Alessandro Valchera, Giampaolo Perna, Monica Mazza, Marco Di Nicola, Giovanni Martinotti, Massimo Di Giannantonio
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2015-01-01
• Series: International Journal of Molecular Sciences
• Subjects: melatonin; melatonergic receptors; serotonin; dopamine; noradrenaline; agomelatine; anxiety; bipolar depression; seasonal affective disorder; schizophrenia; alcohol dependence; migraines; fibromyalgia; psychiatric disorders
• Online Access: http://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/16/1/1111

Agomelatine, a melatonergic antidepressant with a rapid onset of action, is one of the most recent drugs in the antidepressant category. Agomelatine’s antidepressant actions are attributed to its sleep-promoting and chronobiotic actions mediated by MT1 and MT2 receptors present in the suprachiasmatic nucleus, as well as to its effects on the blockade of 5-HT2c receptors. Blockade of 5-HT2c receptors causes release of both noradrenaline and dopamine at the fronto-cortical dopaminergic and noradrenergic pathways. The combined actions of agomelatine on MT1/MT2 and 5-HT2c receptors facilitate the resynchronization of altered circadian rhythms and abnormal sleep patterns. Agomelatine appeared to be effective in treating major depression. Moreover, evidence exists that points out a possible efficacy of such drug in the treatment of bipolar depression, anxiety disorders, alcohol dependence, migraines etc. Thus, the aim of this narrative review was to elucidate current evidences on the role of agomelatine in disorders other than major depression.