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Elsevier
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AI-Generated response:

what is Silexan?

Answer generated on June 4, 2024

The AI-generated responses are for illustration purposes only and should not be used for medical purposes.

Silexan® is a proprietary essential oil derived from Lavandula angustifolia flowers, known for its anxiolytic and antidepressant properties, and is devoid of hypnotic, sedative side effects, or abuse potential.[1]

  • Silexan® has shown pronounced anxiolytic effects in patients with subthreshold anxiety disorders and efficacy in patients with Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD).[1]

  • It also exhibits antidepressant-like properties in patients with comorbid depressive symptoms and those with mixed anxiety-depression disorder (ICD-10 F41.2).[1]

  • The mechanism of action includes moderate inhibition of voltage-dependent calcium channels (VDCC), primarily inhibiting T-type and N-type channels, and to some extent P/Q-type channels.[1]

  • Unlike pregabalin, which mainly inhibits P/Q-type channels, Silexan® does not have hypnotic or sedative side effects and lacks abuse potential.[1]

  • It potentially enhances neuroplasticity, involving activation of the transcription factor CREB via intracellular signaling kinases like PKA and MAPK, which is considered a common pathway for all antidepressant drugs.[1]

Additional info

Silexan® is particularly noteworthy for its dual action as both an anxiolytic and antidepressant without the common sedative effects associated with many psychiatric medications. This makes it a valuable option for patients who may be sensitive to sedation or for those where sedation is not desirable. Additionally, the lack of abuse potential is a significant advantage in the context of long-term management of anxiety and depression, where dependency issues can complicate treatment with other anxiolytics like benzodiazepines. The activation of neuroplasticity pathways suggests that Silexan® might not only alleviate symptoms but also contribute to underlying therapeutic changes in brain function, which could be beneficial in chronic conditions characterized by altered neuroplasticity. These properties of Silexan® make it a unique and potentially valuable addition to the therapeutic options available for treating anxiety and depressive disorders.

References

Reference 1

1.

Müller WE, Sillani G, Schuwald A, Friedland K. Neurochemistry International. 2021;143:104899. doi:10.1016/j.neuint.2020.104899.

Publish date: February 1, 2021.

Silexan®, a proprietary essential oil manufactured by steam distillation from Lavandula angustifolia flowers showed pronounced anxiolytic effects in patients with subthreshold anxiety disorders and was also efficacious in patients with Generalized Anxiety disorder (GAD). Moreover, evidences for antidepressant-like properties of Silexan® have been observed in anxious patients suffering from comorbid depressive symptoms and in patients with mixed anxiety-depression disorder (ICD-10 F41.2). In accordance with the clinical data Silexan® is active in several behavioral models in rodents at rather low concentrations indicating potent anxiolytic and antidepressive properties. As possible mechanism of action a moderate inhibition of voltage dependent calcium channels (VDCC) has been found showing some similarities to the anxiolytic drug pregabalin. However, while pregabalin mainly inhibits P/Q-type channels by binding to a modulatory subunit, Silexan® moderately inhibits mainly T-type and N-type channels and to some extent P/Q-type channels. Unlike pregabalin Silexan® is free of hypnotic or sedative side effects and seems to be devoid of any abuse potential. With respect to its specific antidepressant like properties Silexan® improves several aspects of neuroplasticity which seems to be the common final pathway of all antidepressant drugs. As a potential mechanism of its effects on neuroplasticity an activation of the transcription factor CREB via activation of intracellular signaling kinases like PKA and MAPK has been found.

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