Posted by SLS on May 30, 2001, at 8:00:47
In reply to Pindolol Augmentation with Few Side-effects, posted by SalArmy4me on May 30, 2001, at 1:19:34
Hi Sal.
> This treatment for depression is nothing new, actually. Pindolol is a beta-blocker, the only one of its class known to speed up the action of
antidepressants.Pindolol has been labelled and pigeon-holed as a norepinephrine beta (receptor) blocker. However, it is an extremely potent antagonist at the serotonin 5-HT1a receptor as well. These are found predominantly as autoreceptors (somato-dendritic I think). As such, an antagonist of this receptor would increase the excitability of serotonergic neurons, thus facilitating serotonergic neurotransmission. Perhaps pindolol acts as a synergist with drugs known to act to increase the concentration of 5-HT in the synapse, i.e. SSRIs and MAO-inhibitors, the drugs you have listed as being most often augmented successfully with pindolol. I would like to know which of the tricyclics it has been shown to be effective with. Amitriptyline, clomipramine, doxepin?
Although I see that propanolol is also listed as an antagonist of 5-HT1a receptor, I can't find that it is used consistently as a biological probe for these receptors or compared against pindolol for potency at autoreceptor sites.
What are the current thoughts as to why pindolol might work?
Thanks for posting this review.
- Scott
poster:SLS
thread:64691
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010530/msgs/64716.html