Posted by linkadge on April 10, 2010, at 16:26:23
In reply to Re: TCA's With Opioid Actions?, posted by bulldog2 on April 10, 2010, at 13:11:40
Yeah, like you mentioned the TCA's do have some (direct) NMDA antagonist effects. They are also sigma1 receptor agonists (especially imipramine) which elevates synaptic neurite outgrowth. Amitriptyline (in addition to these actions) is a direct agonist at TRKa and TRKb receptors. This activity promotes neurogenesis and induces neuroprotection.
Oh, also, the TCA's have some effect on monoamine oxidase. Generally, they exert stronger effects on MAO-b than MAO-a. I think trimipramine is also a dopamine reuptake inhibitor.
The SSRI's were initially lauded as the product of "rational" drug design - as if they identified "the" mechanism. The notion that the TCA's were working solely in their capacity as serotonin reuptake inhibitors in nonsense. I think between this post (and the one below) we have identified like 15 different antidepressant like targets of the TCA's. Better go back to the drawing board.
Linkadge
poster:linkadge
thread:942955
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20100406/msgs/943006.html