Current NeuropharmacologyOctober 14, 2026Mareli Vázquez-Barreto, Mariana Ugarte-Rocha, Abraham Flores Vargas et al.
Mental disorders are among the leading causes of non-fatal health loss worldwide and are associated with significant individual, social, and economic burdens. On the other hand, neuropathic pain affects approximately 7-8% of the world's adult population and is a leading reason for medical consultations. A bidirectional relationship between depression and pain has been widely documented....
Introduction: This narrative review systematically examines the available empirical evidence for interactions between delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC or THC) and C. sativa’s other phytochemical constituents hypothesized to underpin the popular yet controversial notion of ‘entourage effects’ experienced with botanical cannabis. Many relevant preclinical and clinical studies have been...
Ketamine and its structural analog, 2-Fluorodeschloroketamine, both potent stimulants, can induce euphoria but also cause neurotoxicity, cognitive decline, and neurodevelopmental deficits in the fetus. However, the molecular mechanisms responsible for these neurodevelopmental abnormalities are not yet fully elucidated, particularly concerning effects that are specific to certain cell types....
Introduction: Nitrous oxide (N2O) abuse is a growing international concern, with limited effective intervention strategies. This study investigates the potential of Cryptotanshinone (CTS) and its metabolite tanshinone IIA (TAN IIA) in alleviating N2O-induced conditioned place preference (CPP) behavior and modulating dopamine D1 receptor (D1R) and TrkB pathway Methods: In vivo, a CPP mouse model...
The integration of psychedelics and music in therapeutic settings is gaining recognition for its potential to enhance mental health outcomes. This review synthesizes current evidence on the neurobiological mechanisms underlying this synergy, focusing on receptor-level pathways (e.g., 5-HT2A receptor agonism, BDNF-TrkB signaling) and neural circuit dynamics (e.g., default mode network...
Depression represents a critical global health burden, ranking as the second leading cause of disability worldwide. Although drug therapies remain an important cornerstone in treating depression, we must acknowledge their significant shortcomings: they often take too long to work, cause difficult side effects, and fail to prevent relapse. Critically, while current drugs target specific...
Preclinical and clinical studies reported that 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, 'ecstasy') can cause adverse effects in the central nervous system (CNS). Recently, preclinical studies have demonstrated that certain psychoactive substances may exacerbate the noxious central effects of MDMA when co-administered, including substances that are contained as adulterants in tablets sold as...
Esketamine rapidly improved suicidality and depression in TRD, with preliminary evidence suggesting gender-specific responses, and highlighting the importance of tailored interventions to maximize outcomes. Further research is needed to confirm these differences, explore the long-term effects, and understand the underlying mechanisms.
The exploration of consciousness and the elucidation of the mechanisms underlying general anesthesia are two intertwined endeavors that have significantly advanced our understanding of the neural correlates of awareness. Both fields converge on the neural systems that regulate consciousness. Frontoparietal networks, known for their involvement in executive functions, attention, and cognitive...
Current NeuropharmacologyApril 7, 2025Marika Alborghetti, Luana Lionetto, Ginevra Lombardozzi et al.1 citation
Esketamine is administered intranasally in combination with at least another antidepressant in patients with treatment-resistant depression. Some of these antidepressants might affect ketamine's pharmacokinetic profile by inhibiting cytochrome-P450 (CYP450) isoforms. Our aim was to establish how different types of combined antidepressants affect serum and salivary levels of esketamine at the...
BACKGROUND: The widespread availability and accessibility of over-the-counter (OTC) medicines play a vital role in modern healthcare systems, enabling individuals to manage minor health concerns independently. However, certain OTC medications possess pharmacological properties that render them susceptible to misuse and abuse, including stimulants, laxatives, sedatives, and opiate-containing...
Depression is a prevalent mental disorder, affecting approximately 300 million people worldwide. Despite decades of research into the underlying mechanisms of depression, a consensus remains elusive. Recent studies have implicated changes in oligodendrocytes and myelin in the pathogenesis of depression. Conventional antidepressants may alleviate symptoms within weeks of use, but approximately...
Data on long-term treatment with Esketamine Nasal Spray (ESKNS) in real-world patients with treatment resistant depression (TRD) is scarce. The primary aim of the study is to evaluate the effectiveness and tolerability of ESK-NS treatment at 6 and 12-month follow-ups. This is part of an observational, retrospective, multicentric Italian study (REAL-ESK study). Subjects for the present study...
Growing evidence suggests that repeated-dose intravenous ketamine in patients with depression had rapid antianhedonic effects. However, a comparison of the antianhedonic effects of repeated-dose intravenous ketamine between younger adults and older depressed patients has not been examined. To the best of my knowledge, this study with a total of 135 patients with major depressive episodes (MDE)...
Abstract: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that can occur following exposure to a traumatic experience. An estimated 12 million U.S. adults are presently affected by this disorder. Current treatments include psychological therapies (e.g., exposure-based interventions) and pharmacological treatments (e.g., selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs))....
This narrative state-of-the-art review paper describes the progress in the understanding and treatment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Over the last four decades, the scientific landscape has matured, with many interdisciplinary contributions to understanding its diagnosis, etiology, and epidemiology. Advances in genetics, neurobiology, stress pathophysiology, and brain imaging have...
We conducted a scientometric analysis to outline clinical research on posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Our primary objective was to perform a broad-ranging scientometric analysis to evaluate key themes and trends over the past decades. Our secondary objective was to measure research network performance. We conducted a systematic search in the Web of Science Core Collection up to 15 August...
Many features of major depressive disorder are mirrored in rodent models of psychological stress. These models have been used to examine the relationship between the activation of the hypothalamic- pituitary axis in response to stress, the development of oxidative stress and neuroinflammation, the dominance of cholinergic neurotransmission and the associated increase in REM sleep pressure....
During the last two years, hexahydrocannabinol (HHC), the hydrogenated derivative of tetrahydrocannabinol has been freely sold by internet websites as a "legal" replacement to THC and cannabis in a range of highly attractive branded and unbranded products, some of which are sold as "legal highs". Potentially, there could be a large demand for HHC products by individuals in Europe and...
BACKGROUND: Ibogaine and noribogaine are psychedelic substances with dissociative properties naturally occurring in plants of the Apocynaceae family. Research has shown their efficacy in treating substance use disorders (SUD), particularly in opiate detoxification, but their efficacy and toxicity are still unclear. OBJECTIVE: This review aims to assess the anti-addictive role of ibogaine and...
Current NeuropharmacologyMarch 4, 2022Radharani Benvenutti, Matheus Gallas‐lopes, Matheus Marcon et al.
Schizophrenia pathophysiology is associated with hypofunction of glutamate NMDA receptors (NMDAR) in GABAergic interneurons and dopaminergic hyperactivation in subcortical brain areas. The administration of NMDAR antagonists is used as an animal model that replicates behavioral phenotypes relevant to the positive, negative, and cognitive symptoms of schizophrenia. Such models overwhelmingly...
BACKGROUND: Both prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) drugs recently emerged among novel psychoactive substances (NPS) being reported as ingested for recreational purposes. Among them, benzydamine (BZY), normally prescribed as an OTC anti-inflammatory drug, is reportedly being diverted and recreationally used. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate how the misuse of BZY has been...
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterised by repetitive behaviours, cognitive rigidity/inflexibility, and social-affective impairment. Unfortunately, no gold-standard treatments exist to alleviate the core socio-behavioural impairments of ASD. Meanwhile, the prosocial empathogen/entactogen 3,4-methylene-dioxy-methamphetamine (MDMA) is known to enhance...
Mood disorders are the most prevalent mental conditions encountered in psychiatric practice. Numerous patients suffering from mood disorders present with treatment-resistant forms of depression, co-morbid anxiety, other psychiatric disorders and bipolar disorders. Standardized essential oils (such as that of Lavender officinalis) have been shown to exert clinical efficacy in treating anxiety...