Which medication acts as both an SSRI and a partial agonist at 5HT1A receptors?

The medication that acts as both a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) and a partial agonist at 5HT1A receptors is vortioxetine. This dual mechanism distinguishes it from traditional SSRIs that primarily function by inhibiting the reuptake of serotonin, thereby increasing serotonin levels in the synaptic cleft.

Vortioxetine’s ability to also act as a partial agonist at the 5HT1A receptor contributes to its antidepressant effects by possibly enhancing serotonergic neurotransmission while mitigating some of the common side effects associated with traditional SSRIs, such as sexual dysfunction and anxiety. This multimodal activity results in a unique profile, allowing for flexibility in treatment strategy for patients with depression and anxiety symptoms.

In contrast, medications like fluoxetine, desvenlafaxine, and venlafaxine do not possess the same dual action. Fluoxetine is a well-known SSRI but does not have the partial agonist activity at 5HT1A. Desvenlafaxine primarily acts as a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) and does not target 5HT1A. Venlafaxine, also an SNRI, similarly lacks the partial agonist effect at the