chlomipramine brands

Molecular formula: C19H23ClN2

Clomipramine is a strong, but not completely selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SRI), as the active main metabolite desmethyclomipramine acts preferably as an inhibitor of noradrenaline reuptake. α₁-receptor blockage and β-down-regulation have been noted and most likely play a role in the short term effects of clomipramine. A blockade of sodium-channels and NDMA-receptors might, as with other tricyclics, account for its effect in chronic pain, in particular the neuropathic type. The pharmacology of clomipramine is complex and in many ways resembles that of other antidepressants, particularly those agents (eg, selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors, trazodone) that predominantly potentiate the pharmacologic effects of serotonin (5-HT). Although clomipramine's principal pharmacologic effect in vitro is the selective inhibition of serotonin reuptake, in vivo the drug's pharmacologic activity is not so selective because of the action of its demethylated metabolite, desmethylclomipramine, as an inhibitor of norepinephrine reuptake. As a result of this and other effects, clomipramine also shares the pharmacologic profile of other tricyclic antidepressants. The precise mechanism of action that is responsible for the efficacy of clomipramine in the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder is unclear. However, because of its pronounced potency in blocking serotonin reuptake at the presynaptic neuronal membrane and its efficacy in the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder, a serotonin hypothesis has been developed to explain the pathogenesis of the condition. The hypothesis postulates that a dysregulation of serotonin is responsible for obsessive-compulsive disorder and that clomipramine is effective because it corrects this imbalance. Clomipramine and its principal metabolite, desmethylclomipramine, have been shown to block the reuptake of serotonin and norepinephrine, respectively, at the presynaptic neuronal membrane. The effects of serotonin and norepinephrine may thus be potentiated. However, it has been suggested that postsynaptic receptor modification is mainly responsible for the antidepressant action observed during long-term administration of antidepressant agents. During long-term therapy with most antidepressants (eg, tricyclic antidepressants, monoamine oxidase [MAO] inhibitors), these adaptive changes generally consist of subsensitivity of the noradrenergic adenylate cyclase system in association with a decrease in the number of beta-adrenergic receptors; such effects on noradrenergic receptor function commonly are referred to as "down-regulation." In addition, some antidepressants reportedly decrease the number of 5-HT binding sites following chronic administration. Clomipramine's principal metabolite, desmethylclomipramine, is an inhibitor of norepinephrine reuptake. Clomipramine decreases the concentration of 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG), a metabolite of norepinephrine, in CSF in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder. Patients with depressive affective (mood) disorders (e.g., major depressive episode) also exhibit decreases in concentrations of 5-HIAA and MHPG in CSF during treatment with clomipramine. The decrease in the concentration of 5-HIAA in CSF was correlated with inhibition of the in vitro uptake of 3H-serotonin in plasma. The change in concentration of MHPG in CSF during clomipramine therapy was correlated with amelioration of depression. For more Mechanism of Action (Complete) data for Clomipramine (10 total), please visit the HSDB record page.

Source: PubChem (NCBI) · compound 2801