Mirapex (Pramipexole) is a drug that is approved by the FDA for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease and RLS (restless leg syndrome). Classified as a dopamine receptor agonist, pramipexole elicits partial or full agonism upon D3 receptors, D2 receptors (2L/2S), and D4 receptors. Interestingly, pramipexole also appears to modify mitochondrial function, and to a negligible …
Effexor (Venlafaxine) is a medication that was originally approved by the FDA in 1993 for the treatment of major depression. Upon ingestion, Effexor functions as an SNRI (or dual-reuptake inhibitor) by inhibiting the reuptake of serotonin, and to a lesser extent, norepinephrine. As a result of serotonergic and noradrenergic reuptake inhibition, concentrations of serotonin and …
Effexor (Venlafaxine) is a drug that was introduced in 1993 as a pharmaceutical antidepressant by Wyeth; its marketing rights are now owned by Pfizer. Pharmacodynamically, it functions primarily as a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) and is understood to be the first-ever “dual reuptake inhibitor” approved by the FDA for the treatment of major depressive disorder. …
Curcumin is considered a diarylheptanoid, or secondary metabolite derived from the plant turmeric (a member of the ginger family). As a diarylheptanoid, curcumin is chemically composed of two aryl groups (aromatic rings) interlinked with a chain of 7 carbon atoms. It was initially discovered by scientists Vogel and Pelletier in 1842 when they extracted and …
Nortriptyline (brand name “Pamelor”) is considered the chief pharmacologically active metabolite of the chemical amitriptyline, a tricyclic antidepressant derived from dibenzocycloheptene. Formation of nortriptyline occurs upon hepatic oxidative N-demethylation of amitriptyline via CYP2D6 and CYP2C19 isoenzymes. In the early 1960s, researchers realized a significant portion of amitriptyline’s antidepressant effects resulted from the formation of its …
Amitriptyline (brand name “Elavil”) is a drug derived from the chemical dibenzocycloheptadiene that was discovered and approved in the early 1960s for the treatment of major depression. It is formally classified as a tricyclic antidepressant (TCA) and functions principally via inhibiting the presynaptic reuptake of norepinephrine and serotonin. This effect of dual presynaptic reuptake inhibition …
Paxil (Paroxetine) is an antidepressant manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline that hit the market in 1992. It was originally approved by the FDA for the treatment of major depression in adults. The drug has since received FDA approval to treat a variety of other psychiatric and medical conditions including: generalized anxiety disorder, hot flashes, panic disorder, PTSD, …