GABA analogues

GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid, γ-aminobutyric acid) is the chief inhibitory neurotransmitter in the developmentally mature mammalian central nervous system. Its principal role is reducing neuronal excitability throughout the nervous system.

chemical compound

chemical compound

Pregabalin, sold under the brand names Axalid and Lyrica among others, is an anticonvulsant, analgesic, and anxiolytic amino acid medication used to treat epilepsy, neuropathic pain, fibromyalgia, restless legs syndrome, opioid withdrawal, generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), and postherpetic neuralgia (a type of nerve damage that can result from shingles). Pregabalin also has antiallodynic properties. Its use in epilepsy is as an add-on therapy for partial seizures. When used before surgery, it reduces pain but results in greater sedation and visual disturbances. It is taken by mouth.

Valproate (valproic acid, VPA, sodium valproate, and valproate semisodium forms) are medications primarily used to treat epilepsy and as a mood stabilizer in the treatment of bipolar disorder. They are useful for the prevention of seizures in those with absence seizures, partial seizures, and generalized seizures. They can be given intravenously or by mouth, and the tablet forms exist in both long- and short-acting formulations.

Gabapentin, sold under the brand name Neurontin among others, is an anticonvulsant medication used to treat neuropathic pain (postherpetic neuralgia) and partial seizures of epilepsy. Gabapentin is a central nervous system (CNS) depressant and derivative of the inhibitory neurotransmitter, GABA. It is used for the treatment of neuropathic pain caused by diabetic neuropathy, postherpetic neuralgia, and central pain. It is moderately effective: about 30–40% of those given gabapentin for diabetic neuropathy or postherpetic neuralgia have a meaningful benefit.

chemical compound

1,4-Butanediol, also called butane-1,4-diol (other names include 1,4-B, BD, BDO, and 1,4-BD), is a primary alcohol and an organic compound with the formula HOCH2CH2CH2CH2OH. It is a colorless viscous liquid first synthesized in 1890 via acidic hydrolysis of N,N'-dinitro-1,4-butanediamine by Dutch chemist Pieter Johannes Dekkers, who called it "tetramethylene glycol".

Baclofen, sold under the brand name Lioresal among others, is a central nervous system (CNS) depressant and derivative of the inhibitory neurotransmitter, γ-Aminobutyric acid (GABA). It is a skeletal muscle relaxant medication used to treat muscle spasms, muscle spasticity, such as from a spinal cord injury or multiple sclerosis. Baclofen is a potent GABAB receptor agonist. It may also be used for hiccups and muscle spasms near the end of life, and off-label to treat alcohol use disorder or opioid withdrawal symptoms. It is taken orally or by intrathecal pump (delivered into the spinal canal v

Muscimol, also known as agarin, pantherine, or pyroibotenic acid, is a GABAA receptor agonist with sedative and hallucinogenic effects and the principal psychoactive constituent of Amanita mushrooms such as Amanita muscaria (fly agaric) and Amanita pantherina (panther cap). It is a 3-hydroxyisoxazole alkaloid and is closely related structurally to the neurotransmitter γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA). The compound is widely used as a ligand and agonist of the GABAA receptor in scientific research. Muscimol is typically taken orally, but may also be smoked. Peak effects occur after 1 to 3hours orally

γ-Butyrolactone (GBL) or '''gamma-butyrolactone''' is an organic compound with the formula . It is a hygroscopic, colorless, water-miscible liquid with a pleasant odor. It is the simplest 4-carbon lactone. It is mainly used as an intermediate in the production of other chemicals, such as N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone.

chemical compound

group of stereoisomers

Vigabatrin, sold under the brand name Vigafyde among others, is a medication used in the management and treatment of infantile spasms and refractory complex partial seizures.

Tiagabine, sold under the brand name Gabitril, is an anticonvulsant medication which is used in the treatment of epilepsy. It is also used off-label in the treatment of insomnia and anxiety disorders. However, off-label use is discouraged as the drug has been associated with new-onset seizures in people without epilepsy. Tiagabine is taken orally.

Phenibut, sold under the brand name Anvifen among others, is a central nervous system (CNS) depressant with anxiolytic effects, and is used to treat anxiety, insomnia, and for a variety of other indications. It is usually taken orally (swallowed by mouth), but may be given intravenously.

In organic chemistry, 3-hydroxybutanal (acetaldol, aldol) is an organic compound with the formula and the structure . It is classified as an aldol () and the word "aldol" can refer specifically to 3-hydroxybutanal. It is formally the product of the dimerization of acetaldehyde (). A thick colorless or pale-yellow liquid, it is a versatile and valuable intermediate with diverse impacts. The compound is chiral although this aspect is not often exploited.

chemical compound

chemical compound

Valpromide (marketed as Depamide by Sanofi-Aventis) is a carboxamide derivative of valproic acid used in the treatment of epilepsy and some affective disorders. It is rapidly metabolised (80%) to valproic acid (another anticonvulsant) but has anticonvulsant properties itself. It may produce more stable plasma levels than valproic acid or sodium valproate and may be more effective at preventing febrile seizures. However, it is over one hundred times more potent as an inhibitor of liver microsomal epoxide hydrolase. This makes it incompatible with carbamazepine and can affect the ability of the

chemical compound

Arecaidine, also known as '''N-methylguvacine''', is an alkaloid in areca nuts and a GABA reuptake inhibitor. It is structurally similar to the GABA reuptake inhibitors guvacine and nipecotic acid. Arecaidine has been found to produce sedative effects in mice and to protect against the lethality of the GABAA receptor antagonists bicuculline and pentylenetetrazol. On the other hand, it did not produce anticonvulsant effects. Lime is said to hydrolyse arecoline to arecaidine.

Valnoctamide (INN, USAN) has been used in France as a sedative-hypnotic since 1964. It is a structural isomer of valpromide, a valproic acid prodrug; unlike valpromide, however, valnoctamide is not transformed into its homologous acid, valnoctic acid, in vivo.

Isovaleramide is an organic compound with the formula (CH3)2CHCH2C(O)NH2. The amide derived from isovaleric acid, it is a colourless solid.

chemical compound

chemical compound

chemical compound

chemical compound

Gabaculine is a naturally occurring neurotoxin first isolated from the bacteria Streptomyces toyacaensis, which acts as a potent and irreversible GABA transaminase inhibitor, and also a GABA reuptake inhibitor. Gabaculine is also known as 3-amino-2,3-dihydrobenzoic acid hydrochloride and 5-amino cyclohexa-1,3 dienyl carboxylic acid. Gabaculine increased GABA levels in the brain and had an effect on convulsivity in mice.

Picamilon (also known as '''N-nicotinoyl-GABA, pycamilon, and pikamilon''') is a drug formed by a synthetic combination of niacin and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA). It was developed in the Soviet Union in 1969 and further studied in both Russia and Japan as a prodrug of GABA.

Gaboxadol, also known as 4,5,6,7-tetrahydroisoxazolo(5,4-c)pyridin-3-ol (THIP) and by its former developmental code names Lu-2-030, MK-0928, and OV101, is a GABAA receptor agonist related to muscimol which was investigated for the treatment of insomnia and other conditions like Angelman syndrome but was never marketed. At lower doses, the drug has sedative and hypnotic effects, and at higher doses, it produces hallucinogenic effects. It is taken orally.

Guvacine is a tetrahydropyridine alkaloid found in areca nuts. It is the N-demethylated derivative of arecaidine and the product of ester hydrolysis of guvacoline, both of which are also found in areca nuts as well. The compound is a potent and selective GABA reuptake inhibitor via GABA transporter 1 (GAT-1) inhibition. It shows poor blood–brain barrier penetration. Lime hydrolyzes guvacoline to guvacine.

Gabapentinoids, also known as α2δ ligands, are a class of drugs that are chemically derivatives of the inhibitory neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) (i.e., GABA analogues) which bind selectively to the α2δ protein that was first described as an auxiliary subunit of voltage-gated calcium channels (VGCCs).

chemical compound

pair of isomers

Quisqualamine is the α-decarboxylated analogue of the glutamate receptor agonist and neurotoxin quisqualic acid and an analogue of the neurotransmitter γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA).

Mirogabalin (brand name Tarlige; developmental code name DS-5565) is a gabapentinoid medication developed by Daiichi Sankyo. Gabapentin and pregabalin are also members of this class. As a gabapentinoid, mirogabalin binds to the α2δ subunit of voltage-gated calcium channel (1 and 2), but with significantly higher potency than pregabalin. It has shown promising results in Phase II clinical trials for the treatment of diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain.

chemical compound

Progabide, sold under the brand name Gabrene, is a GABA receptor agonist which is used in the treatment of epilepsy. It is an analogue of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and acts both via a metabolite and as a prodrug of GABA, in turn behaving as an agonist of the GABA receptors.

Atagabalin (, ; developmental code name PD-0200390) is a drug developed by Pfizer and related to gabapentin, which similarly binds to the α2δ calcium channels (1 and 2). It was under development as a treatment for insomnia, but was discontinued following unsatisfactory trial results. The drug reached phase 2 clinical trials for this indication prior to the discontinuation of its development.

chemical compound

Pivagabine (INN; brand name Tonerg), also known as '''N-pivaloyl-γ-aminobutyric acid or N-pivaloyl-GABA''', is an antidepressant and anxiolytic drug which was introduced in Italy in 1997 for the treatment of depressive and maladaptive syndromes. But it was discontinued in Italy (according to Martindale). Originally believed to function as a prodrug to GABA, pivagabine is now believed to act somehow via modulation of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF).

γ-Hydroxybutyraldehyde is the organic compound with the formula HOCH2CH2CH2CHO. It is a colorless liquid. The compound occurs in nature and is produced commercially.