Agomelatine, melatonin and depression

Abstract

While seasonal and circadian rhythm alterations in the condition of depression have been suggested since antiquity, only in recent times has the notion been tested with empirical data. Therapeutic approaches based on the manipulation of circadian rhythm are a later development, with the antidepressant medication, agomelatine, being approved for clinical use in many jurisdictions. Agomelatine is a multifunctional drug with agonist actions at melatonin-1 (MT1) and melatonin-2 (MT2) receptors. An additional antagonist action at the serotonin-2C (5HT2C) receptors also appears to be necessary for its antidepressant effect. Despite this, the potential role of both the endogenous agonist of melaton..