Augmentation of antidepressant effects of duloxetine and bupropion by caffeine in mice

The influence of caffeine on the activity of moclobemide, venlafaxine, bupropion and milnacipran in the forced swim test in mice

“…Drugs which through its mechanisms of action contribute to the increase in the level of serotonin, noradrenaline and dopamine in the CNS play a vital role in the antidepressant therapy [12]. In the presented study, four drugs that have a proven [32] in the animal group receiving duloxetine with caffeine comparing with other treated groups. It has been estimated that, in the hippocampus and cerebral cortex as well as throughout the brain, levels of 5-HT, NA, and DA increased in mice receiving duloxetine and caffeine at the same time [32].…”

“…In the presented study, four drugs that have a proven [32] in the animal group receiving duloxetine with caffeine comparing with other treated groups. It has been estimated that, in the hippocampus and cerebral cortex as well as throughout the brain, levels of 5-HT, NA, and DA increased in mice receiving duloxetine and caffeine at the same time [32].…”

“…The existing data on the changes in the therapeutic effect of antidepressants caused by concomitant administration of caffeine were based solely on the results obtained in behavioral tests [32,55] and on the levels of monoamines in the brain structures [32]. The results of our study indicate, that in the case of the combined administration of caffeine and venlafaxine, bupropion, or moclobemide the effect observed in the FST was related to pharmacodynamic rather than pharmacokinetic interactions because caffeine did not alter these drugs concentrations either in serum or in brain homogenates.…”

“…At the same time, both substances also increase noradrenergic neurotransmission[47,60]. Kale and Addepalli[32] in their research on mice, where bupropion and caffeine at doses of 5 mg/kg each have been co-administered, also observed a statistically significant reduction in the immobility time of animals in the FST and in the tail suspension test. The further research undertaken to estimate the level of monoamines in the brain structures showed that the combined application of these agents led to the increased concentrations of NA, DA, and 5-HT in the hippocampus, cerebral cortex, and thus the whole brain.Until now, the effects of caffeine on the antidepressant effects of monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) have not been studied.…”

Withdrawal of caffeine after its chronic administration modifies the antidepressant-like activity of atypical antidepressants in mice. Changes in cortical expression of Comt, Slc6a15 and Adora1 genes

“…Moreover, caffeine at a dose of 5 mg/kg did not induce an antidepressant-like effect in this test but potentiated the activity of antidepressant drugs belonging to almost all known antidepressant classes (i.e., imipramine, desipramine, fluoxetine, paroxetine, escitalopram, reboxetine, venlafaxine, mianserin, milnacipran, bupropion, agomelatine, and moclobemide) (Kale and Addepalli 2014; Poleszak et al 2016; Poleszak et al 2015; Szopa et al 2016). This observation raises the possibility of augmentation of antidepressant therapy with caffeine.…”