Litoxetine

Litoxetine

Litoxetine is a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) that was developed in the 1980s by Eli Lilly and Company. It was primarily investigated for its potential use in the treatment of depression, anxiety disorders, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), but its development was discontinued before it was brought to market.

History

Litoxetine was first synthesized in the 1980s by Eli Lilly and Company, a pharmaceutical company based in the United States. The drug was developed as a potential treatment for various psychiatric disorders, including depression, anxiety disorders, and OCD. However, despite showing promise in early-stage clinical trials, the development of litoxetine was discontinued for reasons that remain unclear.

Pharmacology

As a SNRI, litoxetine works by inhibiting the reuptake of serotonin and norepinephrine, two neurotransmitters that play key roles in mood regulation. By blocking their reuptake, litoxetine increases the levels of these neurotransmitters in the brain, which can help to alleviate the symptoms of depression and anxiety.

In addition to its effects on serotonin and norepinephrine, litoxetine also has some affinity for the sigma receptor, a protein that is thought to be involved in the regulation of mood and stress responses. However, the clinical significance of this action is not fully understood.

Clinical Trials

In early-stage clinical trials, litoxetine showed promise as a treatment for depression and anxiety disorders. However, the drug's development was discontinued before it could be tested in large-scale, phase III trials. As such, the efficacy and safety of litoxetine in humans remains largely unknown.

See Also

• Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor
• Eli Lilly and Company
• Depression
• Anxiety disorders
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder