Effects of Antipsychotic Drugs on Neuroactive Steroids Brain and Plasma Levels in Humans and Animals: A Systematic Review of the Literature

Abstract

Schizophrenia follows as one of the most challenge mental disorders, despite the highly available pharmacological treatment options, currently represented mainly by antipsychotic medications [1,2]. Most of these antipsychotic medications have in common some level of antagonism of dopamine type 2 receptors (D2) and also blockade of 5HT2A serotonin receptors is present in some of these compounds [3,4]. Even with the different types of currently available antipsychotics, all of them as stated earlier, have in common some blockade of D2 receptors. This pharmacodynamics effect is in accordance to the main theory that tries to explain the physiopathology of schizophrenia, the dopaminergic theory (CARLSSON AND LINDQVIST, 1963). Albeit reasonable improvement can be achieved with the use of antipsychotic to treat schizophrenia symptoms, especially when we consider the positive symptoms (hallucinations and delusions), almost one third of all patients is completely refractory to pharmacological approaches [1,5]. Therefore, the need for new drugs that target other neurotransmission systems other than the dopamine transmission is urgent [6] and the neuroactive steroids, like pregnenolone glutamate has attracted great attention ISSN: 2641-2020 DOI: 10.33552/APPR.2019.02.000533