Mianserin Norepinephrine

Antidepressant Some animal models show antidepressant effects of lobelia extract (Subarnas et al. 1992). Similar to imipramine and mianserin, beta-amyrin palmitate shows antidepressant-like effects in the forced-swimming test (Subarnas et al. 1993a). Whereas mianserin and beta-amyrin palmitate reduce locomotor activity induced by methamphetamine, imipramine increases it. It potentiates sodium pentobarbital-induced sleep more potently than imipramine, but less than mianserin. Collectively, the effects of beta-amyrin palmitate in behavioral and physiological assays suggests it may work in a manner more similar to mianserin than imipramine. However, the mechanism of antidepressant-like effects of lobelia is uncertain. It may be through the beta-amyrin palmitate s ability to release norepinephrine (Subarnas et al. 1993b). An antidepressant effect of lobelia has not been established in humans. 

Maprotiline, a tetracyclic compound, largely resembles tricyclic agents in terms of its pharmacological and clinical actions. Mianserine also possesses a tetracyclic structure, but differs insofar as it increases intrasyn-aptic concentrations of norepinephrine... 

Maprotiline and amoxapine are selective norepinephrine uptake inhibitors. They share most of the properties of the tricyclic antidepressants. Maprotiline has less sedating effect than mianserin and it is more epileptogenic than any other antidepressant. It shows considerable cardiotoxicity when taken in overdose. 

Mianserin does not alter the uptake of norepinephrine, serotonin, or dopamine. It is devoid of anticholinergic properties and thus is not cardiotoxic. Mianserin blocks both ar and a2-adrenergic receptors, and it is sedative in nature. 

Mianserin and maprotiline are tetracyclic antidepressants, which have actions similar to those of the tricyclie antidepressants. However, while the tetracyclics are more sedating, their antimusearinic effects are less marked. Maprotiline inhibits the leuptake of noradrenaline (norepinephrine) and has weak affinity for eentral adrenergic (aj) receptors. Mianserin does not prevent the peripheral reuptake of noradrenaline it blocks presynaptic adrenergic (a2) receptors and increases the turnover of hrain noradrenaline. It is also an antagonist of serotonin receptors in some parts of the brain. 

The pressor (increased blood pressure) responses to tyramine and noradrenaline (norepinephrine) in depressed patients remained virtually unchanged after 14 days of treatment with mianserin 60 mg daily.In 5 healthy subjects taking maprotiline the pressor response to tyramine was reduced threefold while the noradrenaline response remained unchanged. ... 

---