Pharmacological Research
June 26, 2023
Tao Chen, Ling Cheng, Jingwen Ma et al.
48 citations
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.
Pharmacological Research
July 31, 2025
C. Pisanu, R. Carvalho Silva, Mattia Meattini et al.
6 citations
Ketamine and esketamine can rapidly relieve depression that does not respond to standard treatments, but how they work at the molecular level is not well understood. A systematic review of 12 studies examined changes in gene activity (RNA expression) after ketamine or esketamine treatment in people with depression or in human cells grown in the lab. The studies found that these drugs alter the activity of genes involved in brain cell communication, immune regulation, and the brain's ability to adapt and change. However, no single consistent marker in the blood was identified across studies. The findings suggest that mapping gene activity patterns could help reveal how these treatments work and identify who might benefit most, though more research is needed.
Pharmacological Research
May 14, 2025
Rebecca Morris, Janet Treasure, Hubertus Himmerich et al.
4 citations
People with eating disorders often also have anxiety disorders, which can worsen eating disorder symptoms and interfere with treatment. This systematic review examined 51 studies on medications for anxiety in people with eating disorders. Results were mixed: fluoxetine helped anxiety in anorexia and bulimia nervosa but not binge eating disorder; olanzapine showed benefits for anxiety in anorexia nervosa, with preliminary case reports suggesting its use in ARFID. Early evidence for psilocybin and ketamine reported favorable anxiety outcomes in anorexia nervosa patients. More randomized controlled trials are needed to establish efficacy and safety.
Pharmacological Research
December 29, 2025
Martina Colognesi, Daniela Gabbia, Anna Signor et al.
3 citations
Chronic low-dose psilocybin (0.05 mg/kg) reduced body-weight gain, liver steatosis, hyperglycemia, and insulin resistance in mice fed a high-fat/high-fructose diet, without causing central nervous system effects. Multi-omics analyses showed near-complete normalization of disrupted hepatic lipid and carbohydrate metabolism pathways. Psilocybin also improved muscle strength and function, potentially through restoration of leptin sensitivity. The metabolic benefits were independent of the psychedelic target 5-HT2A and instead resulted from antagonism of the serotonin 5-HT2B receptor in the liver, supporting psilocybin as a potential novel therapeutic for metabolic disorders.