Serotonin receptor agonist


A serotonin receptor agonist is an agonist of one or more serotonin receptors. They activate serotonin receptors in a manner similar to that of serotonin, a neurotransmitter and hormone and the endogenous ligand of the serotonin receptors.

Non-selective agonists

s such as tryptamines, lysergamides ), phenethylamines, and amphetamines are non-selective agonists of serotonin receptors. Their hallucinogenic effects are specifically mediated by activation of the 5-HT2A receptor.
Drugs that increase extracellular serotonin levels such as serotonin reuptake inhibitors, serotonin releasing agents, and monoamine oxidase inhibitors are indirect non-selective serotonin receptor agonists. They are used variously as antidepressants, anxiolytics, antiobsessionals, appetite suppressants, and entactogens.

5-HT1 receptor agonists

5-HT1A receptor agonists

s such as buspirone, gepirone, and tandospirone are 5-HT1A receptor partial agonists marketed primarily as anxiolytics, but also as antidepressants. The antidepressants vilazodone and vortioxetine are 5-HT1A receptor partial agonists. Flibanserin, a drug used for female sexual dysfunction, is a 5-HT1A receptor partial agonist. Many atypical antipsychotics, such as aripiprazole, asenapine, clozapine, lurasidone, quetiapine, and ziprasidone, are 5-HT1A receptor partial agonists, and this action is thought to contribute to their beneficial effects on negative symptoms in schizophrenia.

5-HT1B receptor agonists

s such as sumatriptan, rizatriptan, and naratriptan are 5-HT1B receptor agonists that are used to abort migraine and cluster headache attacks. The ergoline antimigraine agent ergotamine also acts on this receptor.
Serenics such as batoprazine, eltoprazine, and fluprazine are agonists of the 5-HT1B receptor and other serotonin receptors, and have been found to produce antiaggressive effects in animals, but have not been marketed. Eltoprazine is under development for the treatment of aggression and for other indications.

5-HT1D receptor agonists

In addition to being 5-HT1B agonists, triptans are also agonists at the 5-HT1D receptor, which contributes to their antimigraine effect caused by vasoconstriction of blood vessels in the brain. The same is true for ergotamine.

5-HT1E receptor agonists

The triptan eletriptan is an agonist of the 5-HT1E receptor. BRL-54443 is a selective 5-HT1E and 5-HT1F receptor agonist which is used in scientific research.

5-HT1F receptor agonists

Triptans such as eletriptan, naratriptan, and sumatriptan are agonists of the 5-HT1F receptor. Lasmiditan is a selective 5-HT1F agonist that is under development by Eli Lilly and Company for the treatment of migraine.

5-HT2 receptor agonists

5-HT2A receptor agonists

Serotonergic psychedelics like psilocybin, LSD, and mescaline act as 5-HT2A receptor agonists. Their actions at this receptor are thought to be responsible for their hallucinogenic effects. Most of these drugs also act as agonists of other serotonin receptors. Not all 5-HT2A receptor agonists are psychoactive.
The 25-NB series is a family of phenethylamine serotonergic psychedelics that, unlike other classes of serotonergic psychedelics, act as highly selective 5-HT2A receptor agonists. The most well-known member of the 25-NB series is 25I-NBOMe. -DMBMPP is an analogue of the 25-NB compounds and is the most highly selective agonist of the 5-HT2A receptor that has been identified to date. O-4310 is a tryptamine derivative that is a highly selective agonist of the 5-HT2A receptor.
Selective 5-HT2A receptor agonists like the 25-NB compounds can cause serotonin syndrome-like adverse effects such as hyperthermia, hyperpyrexia, tachycardia, hypertension, clonus, seizures, agitation, aggression, and hallucinations, most importantly in overdose. In severe cases, these effects can be fatal. In contrast, for reasons that are unknown, LSD, which is an agonist of both the 5-HT2A receptor and many other serotonin receptors, has never been associated with serotonin syndrome in more than 50 years of use. Activation of the 5-HT2A receptor is also implicated in serotonin syndrome caused by indirect serotonin receptor agonists like serotonin reuptake inhibitors, serotonin releasing agents, and monoamine oxidase inhibitors. Antagonists of the 5-HT2A receptor like cyproheptadine and chlorpromazine are able to reverse and mediate recovery from serotonin syndrome.

5-HT2B receptor agonists

Agonists of the 5-HT2B receptor are implicated in the development of cardiac fibrosis. Fenfluramine, pergolide, and cabergoline have been withdrawn from some markets for this reason. Many serotonergic psychedelics, such as LSD and psilocin, have been shown to activate this receptor directly. MDMA has been reported to be both a potent direct agonist and have an indirect effect by increasing plasma serotonin levels.

5-HT2C receptor agonists

is an appetite suppressant and anti-obesity drug which acts as a selective 5-HT2C receptor agonist. meta-Chlorophenylpiperazine is a 5-HT2C-preferring serotonin receptor agonist that induces anxiety and depression and can cause panic attacks in susceptible individuals.

5-HT3 receptor agonists

and quipazine are moderately selective agonists of the 5-HT3 receptor that are used in scientific research. Agonists of this receptor are known to induce nausea and vomiting, and are not used medically.

5-HT4 receptor agonists

and tegaserod are 5-HT4 receptor partial agonists that were used to treat disorders of gastrointestinal motility. Prucalopride is a highly selective 5-HT4 receptor agonist that can be used to treat certain disorders of gastrointestinal motility. Other 5-HT4 receptor agonists have shown potential to be nootropic and antidepressant drugs, but have not been marketed for such indications.

5-HT5A receptor agonists

, a constituent of valerian root, has been found to act as a 5-HT5A receptor agonist, and this action could be involved in the sleep-promoting effects of valerian.

5-HT6 receptor agonists

No selective agonists of the 5-HT6 receptor have been approved for medical use. Selective 5-HT6 receptor agonists like E-6801, E-6837, EMDT, WAY-181,187, and WAY-208,466 show antidepressant, anxiolytic, antiobsessional, and appetite suppressant effects in animals, but also impair cognition and memory.

5-HT7 receptor agonists

is a 5-HT7 receptor agonist that has been used in scientific research.