About NbN

The new Neuroscience based Nomenclature 

Mission and Scope

 

It has become clear that the current pharmacological nomenclature of psychotropic medications does not reflect our contemporary knowledge, nor does it inform properly the clinician of neuroscience-based prescriptions. Very often we prescribe “antidepressants” for “anxiety” disorders or “second-generation antipsychotics” to depressed patients.

This practice is confusing.

• Five international organizations ECNP, ACNP, AsCNP, CINP & IUPHAR decided five years ago to establish a taskforce and gave it the mission to embed our current neuroscience advances in the nomenclature.

• The scope is to include all the medications with CNS indications and to harness this new nomenclature to help clinicians when they are trying to figure out what would be the next rational “neuropsychopharmacological step”.

This proposed nomenclature aims to reflect the current pharmacological knowledge base and cannot necessarily represent the ultimate scientific truth.

The taskforce that assembled  could have taken the stand that our current knowledge base is not enough to define the primary target or the correct mechanisms of action. But as a taskforce, we feel that it’s better to present a cutting-edge scientific interpretation than to wait for the definitive conclusion. We need to treat our patients now, and we cannot postpone treatment until all the facts are known.

 

Therefore this nomenclature is based on:

1. The need to treat now.

2. Updated neuroscience insights.

3. The judgment of the members of the taskforce.

Along these lines, we have come up with the following proposal:

The Nomenclature:

Pharmacology and Mode of Action  reflects the current knowledge and understanding about the targeted neurotransmitter/ molecule/system being modified and the mode/mechanism of action.

 We also added 4 additional dimensions

4 Additional Dimensions:

Approved Indications  based on the recommendations of major regulatory bodies (e.g. FDA, EMA, etc.)

Efficacy and Side Effects  Driven from positive single, large, RCT and/or “heavy solid weight” clinical data. Only prevalent or life-threatening side effects were included 

Practical Note – Summarizes the clinical knowledge that has been "filtered" through the taskforce's "sieve"

Neurobiology – This dimension is focused on the biology. It is divided into preclinical and clinical sections, with the emphasis on the latter

For those who would like to know more abo derived from empirical data.ut the pharmacology, there is a direct link to the relevant site of IUPHAR – our collaborator in this endeavour.

 

As this is an on-going process, we recognize that the product is imperfect. Based on your feedback (and taking into account the feedback of other colleges) new reports and findings, appropriate updates (e.g. later editions) will be undertaken.

 

 

8 Comments

 

1. Medication Included
In principle, medications with approved CNS indications are included. In this App you will find the medications that we were aware of. The taskforce welcomes proposals to include medications that for one reason or another were omitted.

1a. Fixed combinations of medications
The taskforce limits the inclusion of fixed combinations of medications only to medications that are otherwise not available. This decision reflects the generally negative view of the taskforce regarding this type of prescribing practice.

2. Inclusion criteria for the efficacy section
Positive single, large, RCT, “heavy solid weight” clinical data and/or well supported expert guidelines.

3. Inclusion criteria for the side effects section
Only serious life-threatening or prevalent side effects were included.

4. The practical note
Summarizes the clinical knowledge that has been "filtered" through the taskforce's "sieve".

5. Neurobiology
This dimension is focused on the biology. It is divided into preclinical and clinical sections, with the emphasis on the latter.

6. Affinity
Included only were it is clinically relevant and if human data is available. Please note that it is needed further work which we intend to do.

7. Uptake Inhibitors
Figures for the SERT/NET or NET/SERT uptake inhibition have been taken from studies of uptake inhibition which use human transporters. If there is more than one study we have taken a mean. If there are only rat transporter studies, we have used these in the same way but added (rat) to the description.

8. Pregnancy and lactation layer

The information is taken from the “quick take” of Reprotox (copyright Reproduction Toxicology Center, used with permission). For more detailed information please refer to the official website: www.reprotox.com. 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10 Pharmacological Domains

 

1. Acetylcholine

2. Dopamine  

3. GABA

4. Glutamate

5. Histamine

6. Melatonin

7. Norepinephrine

8. Opioid

9. Orexin

10. Serotonin
      

 

9 Modes of Action

1. Enzyme inhibitor   

2. Enzyme modulator

3. Ion channel blocker

4. Neurotransmitters releaser

5. Positive allosteric modulator (PAM)

6. Receptor agonist

7. Receptor antagonist 

8. Receptor partial agonist 

9. Reuptake inhibitor