methysergide

Methysergide, sold under the brand names Deseril and Sansert, is a monoaminergic medication which is used in the prevention and treatment of migraine and cluster headaches. It has been withdrawn from the market in the United States and Canada due to safety concerns. The drug has also been found to produce psychedelic effects at high doses. It is taken orally.

The drug is a prodrug of methylergometrine (methylergonovine), which circulates at levels about 10times higher than those of methysergide. Whereas methysergide is a mixed agonist of some serotonin receptors (e.g., the serotonin 5-HT1 receptors) and antagonist of other serotonin receptors (e.g., the serotonin 5-HT2 receptors), methylergonovine is a non-selective agonist of most of the serotonin receptors, including of both the serotonin 5-HT1 and 5-HT2 receptor subgroups. Methysergide and methylergometrine are ergolines and lysergamides and are related to the ergot alkaloids.