ArticlePsychopharmacology2025
Combination of low doses of mirtazapine plus venlafaxine produces antidepressant-like effects in rats, without affecting male or female sexual behavior.
Article in Psychopharmacology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.
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Who cites it
3 citing papers in PubMed.
- 4-Phenylbutyric acid alleviates acrylamide-induced sexual behavioral deficits and testicular damage in male Wistar rats: modulation of ER-stress associated signaling.Journal of molecular histology · 2026Article
- Advancing Antidepressive Agents: Drug Discovery and Polymer-Based Drug Delivery Systems for Improved Treatment Outcome.Biomedicines · 2025Review
- State-dependent memory mechanisms insights from neural circuits and clinical implications.Frontiers in cellular neuroscience · 2025Review
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4 authors.
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Abstract
rationalePharmacological treatments for depression are not always effective and produce unwanted side effects. Male and female sexual dysfunction is one of these side effects, which can lead to treatment withdrawal. Combination of two antidepressants with different mechanisms of action, like mirtazapine (MTZ) and venlafaxine (VLF) have been shown to be effective for treatment-resistant depression in humans. Combination of low doses of these drugs may still exert antidepressant-like effects without altering sexual behavior.
objectivesTo investigate the potential antidepressant-like effect of the chronic administration of low doses of MTZ plus VLF combined, as well as its impact on male and female sexual behavior in rats.
methodsThe antidepressant-like effect of a 14-day treatment with combinations of MTZ plus VLF (0/0, 2.5/3.75 or 5/7.5 mg/kg) was assessed in young adult male and female rats in the forced swim test (FST). The 5/7.5 mg/kg MTZ/VLF combination was also tested in the chronic mild stress (CMS) test, in both males and females treated for 21 days. The sexual effects of this last treatment were assessed in sexually experienced males and in gonadally-intact females during proestrus.
resultsThe 5/7.5 mg/kg MTZ/VLF combination produced an antidepressant-like effect in the FST and reversed the CMS-induced anhedonia in both male and female rats. This combination did not alter male sexual behavior, female proceptive and receptive behaviors or the regularity of the estrous cycle.
conclusionThe combination of low doses of MTZ and VLF might be a promising therapeutic alternative to treat depression without affecting the sexual response.
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