What one hand giveth the other taketh away: some unpredicted effects of enantiomers in psychopharmacology

David J. Nutt, Celia L. Feetam

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

It is well known that many medicines are a mixture of two enantiomers, or mirror-image molecules. Two enantiomers occur when a molecule has a single chiral centre and the two mirror images, called S or L (left handed) and R or D (right handed), are usually found in equal amounts in the parent (racemic) mixture. While for many compounds used in clinical practice the active moiety is found in one of the two enantiomers with the other being seen as an unnecessary and redundant component of the racemic mixture, the difference between enantiomers can mean a difference between therapeutic and adverse effects, as well as in beneficial pharmacological effect and potency.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1137-1141
Number of pages5
JournalJournal of Psychopharmacology
Volume24
Issue number8
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Aug 2010

Keywords

  • Citalopram
  • enantiomers
  • escitalopram
  • eszopiclone
  • fluoxetine
  • zopiclone

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