Abstract
Depressive disorders have, for a sizeable extent, proven resilient to pharmacotherapy. Established drugs such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) or serotonin-noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) often provide inadequate symptom relief and sometimes fail altogether. Recently, interest in antidepressant effects of scopolamine, a non-selective muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (mAChR) antagonist, has arisen. Initial evidence suggests that scopolamine provides relatively rapid and long-lasting symptom alleviation for unipolar and bipolar depressed patients. At the same time, side effects of medical dosages appear mild and transient in nature. The aim of the present review is to tentatively discuss the antidepressant potential of scopolamine and to outline putative neurobiological pathways. Clearly, mAChR antagonism provides an intriguing novel therapeutical approach for treating depressive disorders.
Keywords: Acetylcholine, antidepressants, depression, muscarinic receptors, monoamines, scopolamine.
CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets
Title:Scopolamine and Depression: A Role for Muscarinic Antagonism?
Volume: 13 Issue: 4
Author(s): Helge Hasselmann
Affiliation:
Keywords: Acetylcholine, antidepressants, depression, muscarinic receptors, monoamines, scopolamine.
Abstract: Depressive disorders have, for a sizeable extent, proven resilient to pharmacotherapy. Established drugs such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) or serotonin-noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) often provide inadequate symptom relief and sometimes fail altogether. Recently, interest in antidepressant effects of scopolamine, a non-selective muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (mAChR) antagonist, has arisen. Initial evidence suggests that scopolamine provides relatively rapid and long-lasting symptom alleviation for unipolar and bipolar depressed patients. At the same time, side effects of medical dosages appear mild and transient in nature. The aim of the present review is to tentatively discuss the antidepressant potential of scopolamine and to outline putative neurobiological pathways. Clearly, mAChR antagonism provides an intriguing novel therapeutical approach for treating depressive disorders.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Hasselmann Helge, Scopolamine and Depression: A Role for Muscarinic Antagonism?, CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets 2014; 13 (4) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1871527313666140618105710
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1871527313666140618105710 |
Print ISSN 1871-5273 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1996-3181 |
Call for Papers in Thematic Issues
Diagnosis and treatment of central nervous system infectious diseases
Infectious diseases of the central nervous system (CNS) can be divided into bacterial, tuberculous, viral, fungal, parasitic infections, etc. Early etiological treatment is often the most crucial means to reduce the mortality rate of patients with central nervous system infections, reduce complications and sequelae, and improve prognosis. The initial clinical ...read more
Techniques of Drug Repurposing: Delivering a new life to Herbs & Drugs
Of late, with the adaptation of innovative approaches and integration of advancements made towards medical sciences as well as the availability of a wide range of tools; several therapeutic challenges are being translated into viable clinical solutions, with a high degree of efficacy, safety, and selectivity. With a better understanding ...read more
Trends and perspectives in the rational management of CNS disorders
Central nervous system (CNS) diseases enforce a significant global health burden, driving ongoing efforts to improve our understanding and effectiveness of therapy. This issue investigates current advances in the discipline, focusing on the understanding as well as therapeutic handling of various CNS diseases. The issue covers a variety of diseases, ...read more
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
Related Articles
-
Invasive Aspergillosis: New Insights into Disease, Diagnostic and Treatment
Current Pharmaceutical Design Targeted Therapy for Advanced Renal Cell Cancer: Cytokines and Beyond
Current Pharmaceutical Design Immunomodulation Mechanism of Antidepressants: Interactions between Serotonin/Norepinephrine Balance and Th1/Th2 Balance
Current Neuropharmacology Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome: The Best Approaches for Preven-tion and Treatment: A Mini-Review
Current Women`s Health Reviews CGRP-Receptor Antagonism in Migraine Treatment
CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets Molecular Effects of L-dopa Therapy in Parkinson’s Disease
Current Genomics Is Combination Therapy of Atosiban and Nifedipine More Effective in Preterm Labor than Each Drug Alone? A Prospective Study
Current Women`s Health Reviews A Novel Therapeutic Strategy Against Vascular Disorders with Chymase Inhibitor
Current Vascular Pharmacology Cardiovascular Diseases and the Nitric Oxide Pathway
Current Vascular Pharmacology Affinity Ligands for Industrial Protein Purification
Protein & Peptide Letters Bone Disease in Diabetes
Current Diabetes Reviews Beta-Blockers in Pediatric Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathies
Reviews on Recent Clinical Trials Treating and Preventing No Reflow in the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory
Current Cardiology Reviews Impact of Aging on the Angiogenic Potential of the Myocardium: Implications for Angiogenic Therapies with Emphasis on Sirtuin Agonists
Recent Patents on Cardiovascular Drug Discovery Canagliflozin : A New Hope in the Antidiabetic Armamentarium
Recent Patents on Cardiovascular Drug Discovery Intra-arterial Instillation of a Nociceptive Agent Modulates Cardiorespiratory Parameters Involving 5-HT3 and TRPV1 Receptors in Anesthetized Rats
Cardiovascular & Hematological Disorders-Drug Targets Thrombolysis in Ischemic Stroke: Focus on New Treatment Strategies
Recent Patents on Cardiovascular Drug Discovery TakoTsubo Cardiomyopathy A Short Review
Current Cardiology Reviews Tolvaptan: A New Therapeutic Agent
Reviews on Recent Clinical Trials Recent Achievements on Siderophore Production and Application
Recent Patents on Biotechnology