Lack of interaction between flibanserin and antidepressants in inducing serotonergic syndrome in rats

Int J Neuropsychopharmacol. 2001 Mar;4(1):9-15. doi: 10.1017/S1461145701002206.

Abstract

This study was aimed at evaluating the ability of flibanserin, a 5-HT1A receptor full agonist with antidepressant potential, to induce the 5-HT syndrome (flat body posture, hindlimb abduction and forepaw treading) in rats previously administered with clinically active antidepressants imipramine, fluoxetine or paroxetine. The 5-HT syndrome was observed for 50 min after intraperitoneal administration of flibanserin (0, 8 or 64 mg/kg) given 10 min after antidepressants (0 or 15 mg/kg). Flibanserin induced flat body posture and very slight hindlimb abduction only at 64 mg/kg. No dose of flibanserin elicited forepaw treading. Similar but milder symptoms were induced by antidepressants. No interaction between flibanserin and antidepressants was observed. A dose of 10 mg/kg flibanserin did not change the flat body posture induced by 8 mg/kg (+/-)-8-OH-DPAT but antagonized (+/-)-8-OH-DPAT-induced forepaw treading.

MeSH terms

  • 8-Hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin / pharmacology
  • Animals
  • Antidepressive Agents / pharmacology*
  • Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation / pharmacology*
  • Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic / pharmacology*
  • Benzimidazoles / pharmacology*
  • Drug Interactions / physiology
  • Fluoxetine / pharmacology
  • Imipramine / pharmacology
  • Male
  • Paroxetine / pharmacology
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Serotonin Receptor Agonists / pharmacology*
  • Serotonin Syndrome / chemically induced*

Substances

  • Antidepressive Agents
  • Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation
  • Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic
  • Benzimidazoles
  • Serotonin Receptor Agonists
  • Fluoxetine
  • flibanserin
  • Paroxetine
  • 8-Hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin
  • Imipramine