Rapid onset brain plasticity at novel pharmacologic targets hypothetically drives innovations for rapid onset antidepressant actions.
Journal of psychopharmacology (Oxford, England) March 1, 2023 Takesha Cooper, Michael David Seigler, Stephen Stahl 18 citations
Several new drugs for depression work much faster than traditional antidepressants, sometimes after a single dose. These agents target three different brain systems: NMDA glutamate receptors, GABA A neurosteroid and benzodiazepine sites, and serotonin 2A/2C receptors. Despite their different targets, all trigger rapid neuroplasticity—the brain's ability to reorganize—which correlates with their fast antidepressant effects. Some of these drugs, called neuroplastogens, induce neuroplasticity without altering mental state. Others, called psychoplastogens, cause dissociation or hallucinatory experiences. There is debate whether these mental changes are necessary for the antidepressant effect or are unwanted side effects. These new treatments are expected to transform the management of major depressive disorder.