Mianserin (MNS)

Mianserin is a psychoactive drug of the tetracyclic antidepressant (TeCA) therapeutic family. Mianserin is an antagonist/inverse agonist of the H1, 5-HT1D, 5-HT2A, 5-HT2B, 5-HT2C, 5-HT3, 5-HT6, 5-HT7, α1-adrenergic, and α2-adrenergic receptors, and also inhibits the reuptake of norepinephrine. As a high affinity H1 receptor inverse agonist, mianserin has strong antihistamine effects. Contrarily, it has negligible affinity for the mACh receptors, and thus lacks any anticholinergic properties. It was recently found to be a potent kappa opioid receptor agonist. In addition, mianserin also appears to be a potent antagonist of the neuronal octopamine receptor. What implications this may have on mood are currently unknown, however octopamine has been implicated in the regulation of sleep, appetite and insulin production and therefore may theoretically contribute to the overall side effect profile of mianserin.