Work

Chirality in Modern Antidepressants: A Comprehensive Review of Stereochemical Impacts on Pharmacology and Therapeutics

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: The review explores the critical role of chirality in the pharmacology of antidepressant drugs, focusing on how the stereochemistry of these compounds influences their biological activity and therapeutic outcomes. Antidepressants, especially modern classes such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin–norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), often possess chiral centers that result in enantiomers with distinct pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic profiles. The review systematically examines various chiral antidepressants, including racemic mixtures and enantiomerically pure drugs, highlighting the differential effects of each enantiomer on neurotransmitter reuptake inhibition and the potential clinical implications. By examining specific examples of chiral antidepressants, the review illustrates the differences in pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics between enantiomers and racemic mixtures, emphasizing the clinical advantages of using enantiomerically pure compounds. Understanding and leveraging chirality in drug design and therapy is crucial for optimizing antidepressant treatments, offering insights into future research directions that could enhance patient outcomes by tailoring medication more precisely to individual biological profiles.

Source: Drugs and Drug Candidates

DOI: 10.3390/ddc3040037

Authors: Gabriel Hancu, Alexandra Uilăcan, Nicoleta Mirela Blebea

Institutions: Universitatea de Medicină, Farmacie, Științe și Tehnologie „George Emil Palade” din Târgu Mureș, Ovidius University

Language: English

Topic: Treatment of Major Depression

Subfield: Pharmacology

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $1,137