Abstract
Therapeutic benefits of alpha1-adrenergic antagonists (A1As), namely, prazosin, terazosin and doxazosin, have begun to emerge in a broad range of psychiatric disorders in clinical trials. A1As have shown promise in the treatment of several psychiatric disorders such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), alcohol dependence, cocaine dependence, nicotine cessation and dementia-related agitation in both animal and human studies. These, and other chronic psychiatric conditions, may be mediated or precipitated by stressful conditions. A1As beneficial effects in these psychiatric disorders are hypothesized via their unique effects on regulating norepinephrine (NE) and corticotrophin releasing factor (CRF), which are two key mediators of stress in the central nervous system (CNS). Despite increasing use of A1As in psychiatric disorders, there is a lack of comprehensive review. Animal studies have suggested that by regulating NE in stressful conditions, A1As can increase the pre-frontal cortical functioning and decrease amygdalar activity. Similarly, rat studies have shown a direct decrease in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) expression of CRF in rats treated with prazosin in stressful conditions. Thus, A1As may have potential benefit in the treatment and secondary prevention of stress-mediated or precipitated psychiatric disorders. In addition, another beneficial effect of A1As is known to be on improvement of metabolic parameters such as lipid profile and insulin sensitivity.
Keywords: Alpha1-adrenergic receptor antagonists, doxazosin, prazosin terazosin, PTSD, secondary prevention in psychiatric disorders, stress, substance use disorders.
Current Psychopharmacology
Title:Alpha1-Adrenergic Receptor Antagonists Use in Treatment and Prevention of Psychiatric Disorders: A Review
Volume: 3
Author(s): Abhishek Wadhawan, Alok Banga, Yinghui Duan, Michel Mennesson and Zhao Helen Wu
Affiliation:
Keywords: Alpha1-adrenergic receptor antagonists, doxazosin, prazosin terazosin, PTSD, secondary prevention in psychiatric disorders, stress, substance use disorders.
Abstract: Therapeutic benefits of alpha1-adrenergic antagonists (A1As), namely, prazosin, terazosin and doxazosin, have begun to emerge in a broad range of psychiatric disorders in clinical trials. A1As have shown promise in the treatment of several psychiatric disorders such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), alcohol dependence, cocaine dependence, nicotine cessation and dementia-related agitation in both animal and human studies. These, and other chronic psychiatric conditions, may be mediated or precipitated by stressful conditions. A1As beneficial effects in these psychiatric disorders are hypothesized via their unique effects on regulating norepinephrine (NE) and corticotrophin releasing factor (CRF), which are two key mediators of stress in the central nervous system (CNS). Despite increasing use of A1As in psychiatric disorders, there is a lack of comprehensive review. Animal studies have suggested that by regulating NE in stressful conditions, A1As can increase the pre-frontal cortical functioning and decrease amygdalar activity. Similarly, rat studies have shown a direct decrease in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) expression of CRF in rats treated with prazosin in stressful conditions. Thus, A1As may have potential benefit in the treatment and secondary prevention of stress-mediated or precipitated psychiatric disorders. In addition, another beneficial effect of A1As is known to be on improvement of metabolic parameters such as lipid profile and insulin sensitivity.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Wadhawan Abhishek, Banga Alok, Duan Yinghui, Mennesson Michel and Helen Wu Zhao, Alpha1-Adrenergic Receptor Antagonists Use in Treatment and Prevention of Psychiatric Disorders: A Review, Current Psychopharmacology 2014; 3 (3) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/2211556004666150507220211
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/2211556004666150507220211 |
Print ISSN 2211-5560 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 2211-5579 |

- Author Guidelines
- Bentham Author Support Services (BASS)
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
- Announcements
Related Articles
-
Targeting Striatal Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor Type 5 in Parkinson’s Disease: Bridging Molecular Studies and Clinical Trials
CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets Neuroprotective Methodologies of Co-Enzyme Q10 Mediated Brain Hemorrhagic Treatment: Clinical and Pre-Clinical Findings
CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets An Overview of Valuable Scientific Models for Diabetes Mellitus
Current Diabetes Reviews The Assessment of Some Metabolic Markers by Combination of Ursolic Acid Supplementation and Resistance Training in Young Older Obese Women
Endocrine, Metabolic & Immune Disorders - Drug Targets Lack of Association Between SLC24A4 Polymorphism and Late-onset Alzheimer's Disease in Han Chinese
Current Neurovascular Research Facial Pain Expression in Dementia: A Review of the Experimental and Clinical Evidence
Current Alzheimer Research Classical Neurotransmitters and Neuropeptides Involved in Parkinson's Disease: Focus on Anti-Parkinsonian Drugs
Current Drug Therapy Nuances in Alzheimer’s Genetic Risk Reveal Differential Predictions of Non-demented Memory Aging Trajectories: Selective Patterns by APOE Genotype and Sex
Current Alzheimer Research Substance P and Alzheimer’s Disease: Emerging Novel Roles
Current Alzheimer Research Alzheimers Disease Drug Development in 2008 and Beyond: Problems and Opportunities
Current Alzheimer Research An Optimal Approach for Selecting Discriminant Regions for the Diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease
Current Alzheimer Research Anti-inflammatory strategies in stroke: a potential therapeutic target
Current Vascular Pharmacology Nano-biotechnology and its Innovative Perspective in Diabetes Management
Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry Quality of Education and Memory Test Performance in Older Men: The New York University Paragraph Recall Test Normative Data
Current Alzheimer Research Beta-Blockers are Associated with Decreased In-Hospital Mortality and Stroke in Acute Decompensated Heart Failure: Findings from a Retrospective Analysis of a 22-Year Registry in the Middle East (1991-2013)
Current Vascular Pharmacology DHA–lysophospholipid Production
Current Organic Chemistry Aging is Not a Disorder
Current Aging Science Antioxidant Clinical Trials in Mild Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer’s disease – Challenges and Perspectives
Current Pharmaceutical Design Diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease Based on Deeply-Fused Nets
Combinatorial Chemistry & High Throughput Screening Adult Neurogenesis, Neural Stem Cells and Alzheimers Disease: Developments, Limitations, Problems and Promises
Current Alzheimer Research