Agomelatine is an atypical antidepressant and is a MT1 and MT2 agonist and 5-HT2C antagonist. Overall, statistically, its side effects are no different, in frequency, from a placebo, with one notable exception — liver damage.[1] This potential for liver damage, while small, is significant enough and potentially life-threatening enough for liver function testing to be mandatory whenever it is prescribed.[2] Its effectiveness varies according to the systematic review one reads; one found it was no more effective than a placebo[1] while others found it is equally effective in treating depression, when compared to other antidepressants.[3]
↑ 1.01.1Koesters, M; Guaiana, G; Cipriani, A; Becker, T; Barbui, C (September 2013). "Agomelatine efficacy and acceptability revisited: systematic review and meta-analysis of published and unpublished randomised trials.". The British Journal of Psychiatry203 (3): 179–87. PMID23999482. doi:10.1192/bjp.bp.112.120196.