Psychotropic potential of calcium antagonists

Evidence from blood cells of patients with a diagnosis of affective disorde rs suggests that a deficient calcium regulation is a trait marker of pathop hysiological processes in these diseases. Based on their activity in a vari ety of animal models, calcium antagonists seem promising as effective treat ments in psychological illness such as depression and anxiety. Although antidepressive effects have been seen with a number of calcium cha nnel antagonists, the dihydropyridine derivative, nimodipine, shows particu lar potential for clinical use due to the unique biochemical properties of this dihydropyridine compound compared with other L-type calcium channel bl ockers and because nimodipine is one of the most lipophilic of these drugs and therefore achieves high concentrations in the CNS. Data obtained from the use of nimodipine in the treatment of young and more so, elderly depressive patients with and without dementia clearly demonstr ate significant antidepressant activity of the drug. Pilot trials in patien ts with a bipolar affective disorder also suggest a clinical benefit of nim odipine either as a monotherapy or as an adjunct to lithium prophylaxis. Fu rther clinical evaluation is therefore recommended to establish more clearl y the therapeutic benefits offered by nimodipine in patients who suffer fro m affective disorders.