Pharmacodynamics and Pharmacokinetics of Viloxazine

Pharmacodynamics and Pharmacokinetics of Viloxazine
Introduction
Over the past few years, the nation has experienced a lot of changes in its population, which increased medical needs have further compounded. There have been increased efforts in the medical field to research and come up with new drugs that can complement or even replace others that were being used initially. This speaks of increased research on better medical approaches and medications to be more effective in new ailments or previous ailments that have now become chronic. Attention Deficiency Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common disorders affecting kids. Management of the disorder mainly took up a three-pronged approach; medications, coaching and behavioural therapy. The FDA, over the past year, has approved several drugs. Viloxazine is one such drug and one that plays a vital role in the treatment of ADHD.
Overview of ADHD
ADHD is a disorder often common in kids, affecting the individual's neurodevelopment. This results in episodes of hyperactivity and attention lapses. It is one of the most common disorders in kids and often lasts until they are into their early adulthood. Bhargava (2021) states it is the most common mental disorder among kids. Individuals with ADHD usually have trouble controlling their impulses, which often results in hyperactive behaviour. The main cause of the condition can be traced down to an imbalance in the body's neurotransmitters. Other causes trace the disease down to genetics, where an individual has a high chance of suffering from the disorder if the parents also suffered from the same.
There are also some structural differences in the size of some parts of the brain in those people with the disorder compared to those without, such as the volume of grey matter (Bonath et al., 2021). Neurotransmitters are the chemical agents in the body that act as messengers between the central nervous system and the target areas. The body cannot function without them because they control virtually all aspects, such as muscle movement, breathing and even heart rate. The main neurotransmitters affecting ADHD are dopamine and norepinephrine. According to Angel (2021), a reduction in dopamine is one of the leading contributors to ADHD. Viloxazine selectively inhibits the moderate reuptake of norepinephrine by binding on its transporter. This, therefore, increases the levels of norepinephrine in various parts of the brain.
Pharmacodynamics and Pharmacokinetics of Viloxazine
Viloxazine has been used in instances as an antidepressant. This was especially the case in Europe in the 70s until it was taken off the market for business reasons. Its efficacy and safety was, however, not an issue at all. The FDA approved it in 2021 as a treatment for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. When looking at its structure, it is a distinct small molecule. It is an SNRI (selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor) (Mather & Condren, 2022). Upon usage, it produces a compound that reacts like amphetamine in the central nervous system. The impact, however, is not addictive and neither does it create any sort of dependence by the patient on it.
Viloxazine is usually administered orally. Once administered, it is absorbed rapidly by t...