Vortioxetine, The Latest Generation Antidepressant

By Author: Rana Moneeb
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Scientific research is progressing slowly but surely. If we talk about Prozac, many people will know what we mean, however, if we mention Vortioxetine, its name is already less familiar. One of the great challenges of drug research is to create an antidepressant drug that will fill in the gaps in current drugs and mitigate some of the more prominent side effects. The aim is for the mechanism of action on the nervous system to be as efficient as possible, with the least possible number of side effects, and for the benefits to be extended over time once the treatment has been completed.
One of the most outstanding problems of this type of antidepressant is the evident lack of response to this type of medication by patients since some improve, but others do not. Even those who may show significant improvement may have residual cognitive symptoms over time. It is this type of problem that relentlessly drives the discovery of more effective drugs.
Current Overview
So far, the most popular drugs are those that target serotonin (fluoxetine) or serotonin and noradrenaline (duloxetine). These are medicines that affect ...
... the monoaminergic system and this system includes serotonin, noradrenaline, dopamine, glutamate or GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid). All this pharmacology has shown relative results, that is, they help at certain times, but in the vast majority of cases, they are not enough by themselves. That is why vortioxetine is focused on a multimodal action.
How vortioxetine works and what benefits it has
As stated by Estela Salagre's team (2020), vortioxetine "acts as a serotonin transporter inhibitor (SERT) and regulates multiple serotonin receptor subtypes (5HT)". 5HT receptors are very numerous in the brain, especially in areas related to the affective and cognitive symptoms of depressive disorders: hippocampus and prefrontal cortex. These receptors interact with a high number of GABAergic and glutamatergic neurons. The main inhibitory neurotransmitter in the body is GABA, so vortioxetine would inhibit the release of GABA and secondarily, there would be release of dopamine, noradrenaline, histamine, and acetylcholine in the prefrontal cortex.
Vortioxetine is slowly absorbed and begins its effect after about two weeks of treatment. Estela Salagre's team has proven that vortioxetine produces anxiolytic and antidepressant effects, even greater than with the famous fluoxetine. On the other hand, it also seems to be a good option for the treatment of neurocognitive deficits in Major Depression Disorder (MDD).
Its action seems to focus on the cognitive symptoms of depression, symptoms that affect both the productivity and functionality of patients. These symptoms include frequent forgetfulness, difficulty concentrating, indecision and slow mental processing. However, it still requires a lot of research to know for sure the extent of its benefits.
 Vortioxetine and therapy
It is important to remember that for much more effective recovery from depression, the best way is through a combination of medication and psychological therapy. Antidepressants alone do not have the potential to solve any problems. Their role is reduced to a physical level only, such as increasing the levels of certain neurotransmitters. Thanks to this, our mood can benefit, however, it is important to point out that the causes of depression or depressed moods are often an ineffective approach to our daily lives.
On the other hand, it is important to remember that not in all circumstances is it necessary to resort to pharmacology. Therefore, first of all, consulting a psychologist can save us months or years of medical treatment. On the other hand, many psychiatrists, only establish a treatment if they see it necessary, but if it is not so, they recommend first of all to the patient sessions of psychotherapy. The fact that taking medication for depression has become standard in our society is not synonymous with having to take it in all circumstances. Professionals will establish the need for them and the duration of treatment.
Bibliography
Savage, E., Grande, I., Solé, B., Sánchez-Moreno, J., and Vieta. E. (2018). Vortioxetine: a new alternative in major depressive disorder. Journal of Psychiatry and Mental Health, 11 (1), 48–59.

Rana Moneebis a web engineer, digital marketing expert and has an extensive understanding of what it takes for a business to completely crush it online. His previous work experience includes author roles in The Hustler's Digest. Rana Moneeb is a graduate of the University of Education, where he studied Information Technology.