RT Journal
A1 Osman OT, Rudorfer MV, Potter WZ
T1 Idazoxan: A selective α2-antagonist and effective sustained antidepressant in two bipolar depressed patients
JF Archives of General Psychiatry
JO Archives of General Psychiatry
YR 1989
FD October 1
VO 46
IS 10
SP 958
OP 959
DO 10.1001/archpsyc.1989.01810100100021
UL http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/archpsyc.1989.01810100100021
AB To the Editor.— 
    We report on the therapeutic and biochemical effects of short- and long-term administration of idazoxan, a selective α2-administration and a putative antidepressant, in three patients with the diagnosis of depression and a history of poor response to standard treatments. The down regulation of central β-receptors in response to increased synaptic norepinephrine (NE) levels has consistently been demonstrated after tricyclic antidepressant1 as well as other effective treatments for depression.2,3 In addition, α2-adrenergic receptors have been shown to down regulate in response to at least some antidepressants.4,5 Furthermore, blockade of α-receptors can accelerate the down regulation of β-receptors by tricyclic antidepressants in rats,6 probably by enhancing intrasynaptic NE through the blockade of prejunctional α2-receptors that normally mediate feedback inhibition of NE release.7 In human studies, however, the addition of yohimbine therapy to patients who had failed to respond