JOURNAL ARTICLE
RESEARCH SUPPORT, NON-U.S. GOV'T
REVIEW
Add like
Add dislike
Add to saved papers

The "blue" side of glutamatergic neurotransmission: NMDA receptor antagonists as possible novel therapeutics for major depression.

In spite of the wide-ranging, continuously expanding arsenal of antidepressants and intensive research on depression, the treatment of severe, recurrent mood disorders as well as antidepressant-resistant refractory mood disturbances has not yet entirely been solved. In this article we attempt to review some data from the growing body of evidence that underlie the presumed implication of the glutamatergic neurotransmission in severe mood disorders and thereby some strategies allowing reinstatement of the normal functioning of the glutamatergic system, particularly through N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptors. Thus, here we focus on one of the most promising ones, the NMDA receptor-modulating agents including competitive NMDA antagonists, glycine site partial antagonists and channel site antagonists: high- and low-affinity non-competitive NMDA receptor blockers. The glutamate-modulating therapies that specifically affect this system, above all low-affinity non-competitive NMDA receptor antagonists such as amantadine and its derivative memantine which are clinically well tolerated and currently used in other indications hold considerable promise for the development of new, improved antidepressants to treat severe, recurrent and refractory mood disorders.

Full text links

We have located links that may give you full text access.
Can't access the paper?
Try logging in through your university/institutional subscription. For a smoother one-click institutional access experience, please use our mobile app.

For the best experience, use the Read mobile app

Mobile app image

Get seemless 1-tap access through your institution/university

For the best experience, use the Read mobile app

All material on this website is protected by copyright, Copyright © 1994-2024 by WebMD LLC.
This website also contains material copyrighted by 3rd parties.

By using this service, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy.

Your Privacy Choices Toggle icon

You can now claim free CME credits for this literature searchClaim now

Get seemless 1-tap access through your institution/university

For the best experience, use the Read mobile app