page_title: Agomelatine
section_title: Structure
hierarchical_section_title: Agomelatine / Chemistry / Structure
caption_attribution_description: Structural formulae of melatonin (top) and agomelatine (bottom). Structures drawn in ChemBioDraw Ultra 12.0.
context_page_description: Agomelatine is an atypical antidepressant used to treat major depressive disorder. One review found that it is as effective as other antidepressants with similar discontinuation rates overall but less discontinuations due to side effects. Another review also found it was similarly effective to many other antidepressants.
  Common side effects include weight gain, feeling tired, liver problems, nausea, headaches, and anxiety. Due to potential liver problems ongoing blood tests are recommended. Its use is not recommended in people with dementia or over the age of 75. There is tentative evidence that it may have fewer side effects than some other antidepressants. It works by stimulating melatonin receptors and blocking serotonin receptors.
  Agomelatine was approved for medical use in Europe in 2009 and Australia in 2010. Its use is not approved in the United States and efforts to get approval were ended in 2011. It was developed by the pharmaceutical company Servier. In the United Kingdom a month of treatment costs the NHS about £30 as of 2019. It is not included in the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme in Australia and a month of treatment costs about $60AU.
context_section_description: The chemical structure of agomelatine is very similar to that of melatonin. Where melatonin has an indole ring system, agomelatine has a naphthalene bioisostere instead.
caption: Melatonin (top) vs. agomelatine (bottom)
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