Effects of 1-alkyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydrocarbazole-1-ethanamines and related compounds, potential antidepressants, on biogenic amine uptake mechanisms.

A new series of compounds structurally related to the potential antidepressant tandamine, i.e., the 1-alkyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydrocarbazole-1-ethanamines, inhibit the noradrenaline uptake mechanism and are relatively ineffective in inhibiting the serotonin uptake mechanism in vivo. The potency of the most effective compound (9-ethyl-N,N,1-trimethyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydrocarbazole) is similar to that of desimipramine and is of potential use in the treatment of endogenously depressed patients.