Serotonin Dual-Action
View the visualisation that shows and explains the unique Serotonin Dual-Action
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SSRIs/SNRIs bind at the primary site of the serotonin transporter responsible for the inhibition of serotonin neurotransmitter reuptake. This binding results in an intermittent "switch-on, switch-off" inhibition of serotonin reuptake.
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Cipralex binds to two different sites on the serotonin transporter - it has a high affinity for the primary binding site, and binds also to an allosteric site on the serotonin transporter. This double-binding results in a stronger, longer and more complete inhibition of serotonin reuptake.
This effect can best be described as 'Serotonin Dual-Action', and potentially accounts for why Cipralex is more efficacious than SSRIs in both depression and anxiety and why it is more efficacious than the SNRI Venlafaxine in patients with severe depression - without compromising tolerability.
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Cipralex is a class of its own and combines the best of two classes: the tolerability of SSRIs and the efficacy of SNRIs - because of it's Serotonin Dual-Action.
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The inhibition of the Serotonin re-uptake is the only likely mechanism of action explaining the pharmacological and clinical effects of Cipralex.
View the visualisation that shows and explains the unique Serotonin Dual-Action
Reference:
1. Sanchez C, Basic Clin Pharmacol Toxicol. 2006 Aug;99(2):91-5