α-Ethyltryptamine: A Ratiocinatory Review of a Forgotten Antidepressant.
ACS pharmacology & translational science December 8, 2023 Richard A Glennon, Mal Gorzata Dukat 3 citations
Alpha-ethyltryptamine (AET), a centrally acting agent known for over 75 years, was briefly marketed as an antidepressant before being withdrawn and classified as a U.S. Schedule I substance due to concerns about abuse and toxicity. Amid current interest in hallucinogenic tryptamines for treating neuropsychiatric disorders like treatment-resistant depression and anxiety, this review critically examines AET's history and argues that it may have been ahead of its time. AET possesses many antidepressant hallmarks, suggesting that its derivatives and optical isomers warrant further investigation.