The Annual Review of Pharmacology and Toxicology
October 12, 2026
Aditya Rayasam, Cecilia J. Hillard
The endocannabinoid (eCB) signaling system is a local regulator of synaptic activity across brain circuits involved in the regulation of emotional behaviors. Preclinical studies predominantly show that eCB signaling dampens acute stress responses, although notable exceptions exist. Various forms of chronic stress downregulate eCB signaling, and enhanced eCB tone can reduce the effects of...
The Annual Review of Pharmacology and Toxicology
August 12, 2025
Daniel Wacker, John D. Mccorvy
4 citations
Psychedelics show tremendous promise for treating psychiatric disorders and other illnesses, including pain and migraine. Despite decades of research, there is uncertainty which signaling mechanisms are necessary for rapid-acting and durable therapeutic effects of psychedelics. Although activation of the serotonin 5-HT 2A receptor is critical for their psychopharmacological effects, the precise...
The Annual Review of Pharmacology and Toxicology
August 1, 2022
R. Roque-Bravo, Rafaela Sofia Silva, R. Malheiro et al.
Synthetic cannabinoids (SCs) are a chemically diverse group of new psychoactive substances (NPSs) that target the endocannabinoid system, triggering a plethora of actions (e.g., elevated mood sensation, relaxation, appetite stimulation) that resemble, but are more intense than, those induced by cannabis. Although some of these effects have been explored for therapeutic applications, anticipated...
The Annual Review of Pharmacology and Toxicology
October 9, 2018
Todd D Gould, Carlos A. Zarate, Scott M. Thompson
132 citations
For decades, symptoms of depression have been treated primarily with medications that directly target the monoaminergic brain systems, which typically take weeks to exert measurable effects and months to exert remission of symptoms. Low, subanesthetic doses of ( R,S)-ketamine (ketamine) result in the rapid improvement of core depressive symptoms, including mood, anhedonia, and suicidal...
The Annual Review of Pharmacology and Toxicology
September 14, 2018
Chadi G. Abdallah, Lynnette A. Averill, Teddy J. Akiki et al.
New approaches to the neurobiology of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are needed to address the reported crisis in PTSD drug development. These new approaches may require the field to move beyond a narrow fear-based perspective, as fear-based medications have not yet demonstrated compelling efficacy. Antidepressants, particularly recent rapid-acting antidepressants, exert complex effects...
The Annual Review of Pharmacology and Toxicology
January 6, 2014
Mark J. Niciu, Ioline D. Henter, David A. Luckenbaugh et al.
166 citations
The N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist ketamine has rapid and potent antidepressant effects in treatment-resistant major depressive disorder and bipolar depression. These effects are in direct contrast to the more modest effects seen after weeks of treatment with classic monoaminergic antidepressants. Numerous open-label and case studies similarly validate ketamine's antidepressant...