agomelatine

Agomelatine is a novel antidepressant primarily used for the treatment of major depressive disorder in adults. It acts as an agonist at melatonin receptor MT1 and MT2 and as an antagonist at serotonin 5-HT2C receptor. This dual mechanism helps resynchronize circadian rhythms and increases noradrenaline and dopamine release in the frontal cortex, which may relieve symptoms of depression. Agomelatine is structurally related to melatonin but has unique pharmacological properties that distinguish it from other antidepressants such as SSRIs or SNRIs. It was developed by Servier Laboratories and first approved for use in the European Union in 2009, where it is marketed under brand names including Valdoxan and Thymanax[1][3][7].

Brand names

ValdoxanThymanax

Other names

agomelatine