Norepinephrine uptake 2 inhibitors (or their precursors) are administered to enhance the effect of norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors and other antidepressants. The uptake 2 inhibitor may be combined in a single medication with a norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor, such as imipramine, desipramine, or reboxetine, in order to inhibit both uptake mechanisms. The norepinephrine uptake 2 inhibitors may also be combined with MAO inhibitors or with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. Alternatively, the norepinephrine uptake 2 inhibitors may be useful antidepressants in their own right, without the need for co-administration of other antidepressants. One class of norepinephrine uptake 2 inhibitors is normetanephrine (the O-methylated metabolite of norepinephrine) and normetanephrine precursors [such as 3-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-serine (4H-3MePS ), particularly L-threo-3-(4-H-3MePS)]that are transported to the brain where they are converted into normethanephrine, thereby enhancing the effect of other antidepressants. For example, the invention enhances the antidepressant effect of norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors.
                            去甲肾上腺素摄取 2 
抑制剂(或其前体)用于增强
去甲肾上腺素再摄取
抑制剂和其他抗抑郁药的效果。摄取 2 
抑制剂可与
去甲肾上腺素再摄取
抑制剂(如
丙咪嗪、地西帕明或雷贝西汀)合用一种药物,以抑制两种摄取机制。
去甲肾上腺素摄取 2 
抑制剂还可与 
MAO 抑制剂或选择性
血清素再摄取
抑制剂结合使用。另外,
去甲肾上腺素摄取 2 
抑制剂本身也是一种有用的抗抑郁药,无需同时使用其他抗抑郁药。
去甲肾上腺素摄取 2 
抑制剂中的一类是
去甲肾上腺素 O-甲基化代谢产物
去甲肾上腺素和
去甲肾上腺素前体,如 3-(
4-羟基)
去甲肾上腺素;如 3-(
4-羟基-3-
甲氧基苯基)-
丝氨酸(4H-3MePS),特别是 L-苏-3-(4-H-3MePS)],它们被输送到大脑,在那里转化为
去甲肾上腺素,从而增强其他抗抑郁药的效果。例如,本发明可增强
去甲肾上腺素再摄取
抑制剂的抗抑郁效果。