Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmacy of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou 646000 China; Luzhou Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine for Chronic Diseases Jointly Built by Sichuan and Chongqing, The Affiliated Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, 646000 China; Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology, Ministry of Education, Development Planning Department of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China; Central Nervous System Drug Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, School of Pharmacy of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China.
1 paper in the library · 48 citations · publishing 2023
Major depressive disorder is a chronic relapsing condition. Conventional antidepressants take weeks to work and are ineffective for many patients. The NMDA receptor antagonist ketamine produces rapid antidepressant effects, not only by blocking postsynaptic NMDA receptors or GABA interneurons but also by affecting AMPA receptors, adenosine A1 receptors, and L-type calcium channels. The 5-HT2A receptor agonist psilocybin has also shown potential for rapid antidepressant effects in mouse models and clinical studies. This review examines new pharmacological targets of emerging rapid-acting antidepressants like ketamine and hallucinogens (e.g., psilocybin) and discusses possible strategies for future antidepressant research.