Depressogen Explained

A depressogen is a substance that causes or can cause depression, usually as a side effect.^[1] They are the functional opposites of antidepressants.^[2]

Examples of drugs commonly associated with depressogenic effects include ethanol, some anticonvulsants such as the barbiturates (e.g. phenobarbital), benzodiazepines (e.g. diazepam), vigabatrin, and topiramate, corticosteroids like dexamethasone and prednisone, cytokines like interferon-α and interleukin-2, certain antihypertensives such as amiodarone, clonidine, methyldopa, reserpine, and tetrabenazine (used as an antipsychotic/antihyperkinetic),^{[3] [4]} and agents with antiandrogen, antiestrogen, and/or anti-neurosteroid activities such as GnRH agonists (e.g., leuprorelin, goserelin), anastrozole (an aromatase inhibitor), finasteride (a 5α-reductase inhibitor),^[5] and clomiphene (a SERM), as well as others including flunarizine, mefloquine, and efavirenz. Another notable agent is rimonabant, a cannabinoid receptor antagonist marketed as an anti-obesity agent which was withdrawn shortly after its introduction due to the incidence of severe psychiatric side effects associated with its use including depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation.^[6]

Examples of endogenous compounds that have been implicated in stress and depression include corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH),^{[7] [8]} cytokines (e.g., interferon-α, interleukin-2), tachykinins (e.g., substance P), glucocorticoids (e.g., cortisol, cortisone), and dynorphin.^[9]

See also

• Anxiogenic
• Euphoriant

Notes and References

1. Celano CM, Freudenreich O, Fernandez-Robles C, Stern TA, Caro MA, Huffman JC . Depressogenic effects of medications: a review . Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience . 13 . 1 . 109–25 . 2011 . 10.31887/DCNS.2011.13.1/ccelano . 21485751 . 3181967 .
2. Belmaker RH . The future of depression psychopharmacology . CNS Spectrums . 13 . 8 . 682–7 . August 2008 . 18704023 . 10.1017/S1092852900013766. 33347610 .
3. Beers MH, Passman LJ . Antihypertensive medications and depression . Drugs . 40 . 6 . 792–9 . December 1990 . 2078996 . 10.2165/00003495-199040060-00003. 2052978 .
4. Kenney C, Hunter C, Mejia N, Jankovic J . Is history of depression a contraindication to treatment with tetrabenazine? . Clinical Neuropharmacology . 29 . 5 . 259–64 . 2006 . 16960470 . 10.1097/01.WNF.0000228369.25593.35 . 248730 .
5. Finn DA, Beadles-Bohling AS, Beckley EH, etal . A new look at the 5alpha-reductase inhibitor finasteride . CNS Drug Reviews . 12 . 1 . 53–76 . 2006 . 16834758 . 10.1111/j.1527-3458.2006.00053.x . 6741762 .
6. Moreira FA, Crippa JA . The psychiatric side-effects of rimonabant . Revista Brasileira de Psiquiatria . 31 . 2 . 145–53 . June 2009 . 19578688 . 10.1590/s1516-44462009000200012. free .
7. Norman TR, Burrows GD . Emerging treatments for major depression . Expert Review of Neurotherapeutics . 7 . 2 . 203–13 . February 2007 . 17286553 . 10.1586/14737175.7.2.203 . 28998898 .
8. Stokes PE, Sikes CR . The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical axis in major depression . Neurologic Clinics . 6 . 1 . 1–19 . February 1988 . 2837631 . 10.1016/S0733-8619(18)30881-8.
9. Knoll AT, Carlezon WA . Dynorphin, stress, and depression . Brain Research . 1314 . 56–73 . February 2010 . 19782055 . 2819644 . 10.1016/j.brainres.2009.09.074 .