chemistry

Roxindole

Roxindole is a chemistry topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Roxindole rather than just read about it. In short: Roxindole (INNTooltip International Nonproprietary Name; developmental code name EMD-49980) is a dopaminergic and serotonergic drug which was under development for the treatment of major depressive disorder, obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD), panic disorder, and psychotic disorders like schizophrenia but was never marketed. Pharmacology Pharmacodynamics Roxindole acts as an agonist at the following receptors: D2 r…

Key takeaways

Roxindole belongs to chemistry; place it in that map before memorising details.
Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
Connect Roxindole to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of Roxindole from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

Roxindole (INNTooltip International Nonproprietary Name; developmental code name EMD-49980) is a dopaminergic and serotonergic drug which was under development for the treatment of major depressive disorder, obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD), panic disorder, and psychotic disorders like schizophrenia but was never marketed.

Pharmacology

Pharmacodynamics Roxindole acts as an agonist at the following receptors:

D2 receptor (Ki = 2.82 nM) D3 receptor (Ki = 1.17 nM) D4 receptor (Ki = 5.89 nM) 5-HT1A receptor (Ki = 0.380 nM) At D2 and possibly D3 receptors roxindole is a partial agonist with preferential actions at autoreceptors and has been touted as a 'selective' autoreceptor agonist, hence the justification of its application as an antipsychotic. It shows markedly lower affinity for the serotonin 5-HT1B and 5-HT1D receptors and acts as a weak partial agonist of these receptors. It is also a serotonin reuptake inhibitor (IC50 = 1.4 nM) and has been reported to act as a 5-HT2A receptor antagonist as well.

History and development Roxindole was originally developed by Merck KGaA for the treatment of schizophrenia. In clinical trials its antipsychotic efficacy was only modest but it was unexpectedly found to produce potent and rapid antidepressant and anxiolytic effects. As a result, roxindole was further researched for the treatment of depression instead. It has also been investigated as a therapy for Parkinson's disease and prolactinoma. However, it has never been marketed. The drug reached phase 3 clinical trials prior to the discontinuation of its development.

See also List of investigational antidepressants List of investigational antipsychotics List of investigational obsessive–compulsive disorder drugs List of investigational panic disorder drugs Carmoxirole Dimethylhomotryptamine

References

Illustrations

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Roxindole

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Roxindole claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In chemistry, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Roxindole before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Roxindole ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Roxindole

In research: Roxindole appears in chemistry research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses Roxindole in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: Roxindole is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics 5-HT1A agonists, 5-HT1B agonists, 5-HT1D agonists, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for Roxindole outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

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How to study Roxindole in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what Roxindole means in your own words.
Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
Explain Roxindole out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is Roxindole in simple terms?

Why does Roxindole matter?

Because it connects several chemistry ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Roxindole?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Roxindole.