Prodrugs and active metabolites among antidepressive compounds

Neuropsychopharmacol Hung. 2011 Jun;13(2):103-10.

Abstract

Clinical effect of drugs is influenced by the composition of the pharmaceutical preparation but substantially by the fate of the drug in the body. Metabolism of the xenobiotic drug compounds may result in pharmacologically inactive metabolites, however, metabolites with higher pharmacological activity can also be produced. These active metabolites may have different pharmacokinetic properties than the parent drug. Co-existence of the parent drug and the active metabolite in the body may significantly modify the therapeutic effect. Knowledge-based system of pharmacokinetics and metabolism of the drugs has a high impact in understanding both the pharmacokinetic and the pharmacodynamic interactions. Cytochrome P450 isoenzymes taking part in the metabolic activity of the central nervous system is a developing area in metabolic studies. In the present study CYP isoenzymes with significant activity in the brain and the clinically important pharmacokinetic and metabolic data of antidepressive compounds are summarized.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antidepressive Agents / blood
  • Antidepressive Agents / metabolism*
  • Antidepressive Agents / pharmacokinetics*
  • Brain / enzymology
  • Brain / metabolism*
  • Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System / metabolism*
  • Drug Interactions
  • Humans
  • Prodrugs*

Substances

  • Antidepressive Agents
  • Prodrugs
  • Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System