Agomelatine

Agomelatine
Clinical data
Trade namesMelitor, Thymanax, Valdoxan, others
Other namesAGO-178; AGO178C; S-20098; S-20098-F55; 7-Methoxy-N-acetyl-1-naphthylethylamine
AHFS/Drugs.comInternational Drug Names
License data
Pregnancy
category
  • AU: B1
Dependence
liability
Low
Routes of
administration
By mouth
ATC code
Legal status
Legal status
  • AU: S4 (Prescription only)
  • BR: Class C1 (Other controlled substances)
  • UK: POM (Prescription only)
  • EU: Rx-only
Pharmacokinetic data
Bioavailability~1%
Protein binding95%
MetabolismLiver (90% CYP1A2 and 10% CYP2C9)
Elimination half-life1–2 hours
ExcretionKidney (80%, mostly as metabolites)
Identifiers
  • N-[2-(7-methoxynaphthalen-1-yl)ethyl]acetamide
CAS Number
PubChem CID
IUPHAR/BPS
DrugBank
ChemSpider
UNII
KEGG
ChEMBL
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)
ECHA InfoCard100.157.896
Chemical and physical data
FormulaC15H17NO2
Molar mass243.306 g·mol−1
3D model (JSmol)
  • O=C(NCCc1c2c(ccc1)ccc(OC)c2)C
  • InChI=1S/C15H17NO2/c1-11(17)16-9-8-13-5-3-4-12-6-7-14(18-2)10-15(12)13/h3-7,10H,8-9H2,1-2H3,(H,16,17) Y
  • Key:YJYPHIXNFHFHND-UHFFFAOYSA-N Y
 NY (what is this?)  (verify)

Agomelatine, sold under the brand names Valdoxan and Thymanax, among others, is an atypical antidepressant most commonly used to treat major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder. One review found that it is as effective as other antidepressants with similar discontinuation rates overall but fewer discontinuations due to side effects. Another review also found it was similarly effective to many other antidepressants.

Common side effects include headaches, nausea, and dizziness, which usually subside in the first few weeks, as well as liver problems – due to the potential effect on the liver, blood tests before treatment initiation, at specific time-points after initiation, and after dose increase is recommended. Its use is not recommended in people with dementia, or who are under the age of 18 or over 75. There is tentative evidence that it may have fewer side effects than some other antidepressants. It acts by blocking certain serotonin receptors and activating melatonin receptors.

Agomelatine was approved for medical use in Europe in 2009 and Australia in 2010. Its use is not approved in the United States and efforts to get approval were ended in 2011. It was developed by the pharmaceutical company Servier.