Christian Guilleminault

Agomelatine: a preliminary review of a new antidepressant

Zupancic M, Guilleminault C. CNS Drug. 2006: 20 981-92

Agomelatine is a new antidepressant that is a potent agonist of melatonin receptors and an antagonist of the 5-HT2c receptor. It is in late-phase trials for treating Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). -Symptoms of depression significantly improved with agomelatine compared with placebo in large placebo-controlled trials. Agomelatine appears to be equally efficacious in treating MDD as other antidepressants, and has fewer side effects. -Agomelatine appears to improve sleep quality with ease of falling asleep as measured subjectively in depressed patients. Polysomnographic studies have shown that Agomelatine decreases sleep latency, decreases Wake After Sleep Onset (WASO), and improves sleep stability as measured by changes in Cyclic Alternating Pattern. -Agomelatine was generally well tolerated in patients with MDD; adverse events were generally mild to moderate with the overall frequency being close to placebo. Withdrawal of Agomelatine because of side effects occurred at a similar rate as placebo.