Depression researchers at the Imperial College School of Medicine in London, UK, are reporting good news about a new antidepressant, which hasn't yet gained FDA approval. The drug, agomelatine, is a melatonergic agonist, which means it blocks reception of the neurotransmitter melatonin, associated with sleep and mood. After six weeks, Valdoxan reduced study participants' depression about as much as Paxil (paroxetine), but with fewer and less severe side effects. I am especially enthusiastic about this part of their report:
Results suggest favorable tolerabitity of agomelatine compared with a serotonin and noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor, and agomelatine is associated with less sexual side effects that are troublesome with some antidepressants. As predicted from its pharmacological profile, agomelatine improves sleep quality without associated daytime drowsiness. Agomelatine was also shown not to induce a discontinuation syndrome.
Source:
2006. "The Melatonergic Approach in Depression: From Pharmacology to Clinical Evidence - Proceedings of a Satellite Symposium held on the occasion of the 19th ECNP Congress." European Neuropsychopharmacology.
Volume 16, Supplement 5 , September 2006, Pages S633-S638
1 readers have commented on this article:
Have you tried agomelatine? If so, I'd like to hear your experience with it.
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