Monoamine-depleting agent

Monoamine-depleting agents are a group of drugs which reversibly deplete one or more of the monoamine neurotransmitters – serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine.^[1][2] One mechanism by which these agents act is by inhibiting reuptake by the vesicular monoamine transporters, VMAT1 and VMAT2.^[2][3] Examples of monoamine-depleting agents include deutetrabenazine, oxypertine, reserpine, tetrabenazine,^[4] and valbenazine.^[1][2][3] Tetrabenazine selectively depletes dopamine at low doses and is used as an animal model of amotivation.^[5][6]

Reserpine, a monoamine-depleting agent

Monoamine synthesis inhibitors, such as the tryptophan hydroxylase inhibitor and serotonin synthesis inhibitor para-chlorophenylalanine (PCPA or fenclonine), also act as monoamine-depleting agents, as do various other agents, for instance monoaminergic neurotoxins.^[7]

See also

• Monoamine reuptake inhibitor
• Monoamine releasing agent
• Tetrabenazine § Animal model of motivational dysfunction