Blockage of muscle and neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors by fluoxetine (Prozac).

Article Details

Citation

Garcia-Colunga J, Awad JN, Miledi R

Blockage of muscle and neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors by fluoxetine (Prozac).

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1997 Mar 4;94(5):2041-4.

PubMed ID
9050901 [ View in PubMed
]
Abstract

Fluoxetine (Prozac), a widely used antidepressant, is said to exert its medicinal effects almost exclusively by blocking the serotonin uptake systems. The present study shows that both muscle and neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors are blocked, in a noncompetitive and voltage-dependent way, by fluoxetine, which also increases the rate of desensitization of the nicotinic receptors. Because these receptors are very widely distributed in the both central and peripheral nervous systems, the blocking action of fluoxetine on nicotinic receptors may play an important role in its antidepressant and other therapeutical effects. Our findings will help to understand the mode of action of fluoxetine, and they may also help to develop more specific medicinal drugs.

DrugBank Data that Cites this Article

Drug Targets
DrugTargetKindOrganismPharmacological ActionActions
FluoxetineNeuronal acetylcholine receptor subunit alpha-2ProteinHumans
Unknown
Antagonist
Details
FluoxetineNeuronal acetylcholine receptor subunit alpha-3ProteinHumans
Unknown
Antagonist
Details
FluoxetineNeuronal acetylcholine receptor subunit beta-4ProteinHumans
Unknown
Antagonist
Details