The 5-HT2C receptors are one of three subtypes that belong to the serotonin 5-HT2 receptor subfamily along with 5-HT2A and 5-HT2B receptors. The development of 5-HT2C agonists has been a major obstacle, because of severe side effects due to a lack of selectivity over 5-HT2A and 5-HT2B receptors. Activation of 5-HT2A receptors can induce hallucinations, and the activation of 5-HT2B receptors has been implicated in cardiac valvular insufficiency and possibly in pulmonary hypertension.[6][7]
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^Leopoldo, Marcello; Lacivita, Enza; De Giorgio, Paola; Berardi, Francesco; Perrone, Roberto (2011). "The Medicinal Chemistry of 5-HT2C Receptor Ligands". 5-HT2C Receptors in the Pathophysiology of CNS Disease. Totowa, NJ: Humana Press. pp. 29–50. doi:10.1007/978-1-60761-941-3_3. ISBN978-1-60761-940-6.
^Yang, Yang; An, Shu; Liu, Ying; Guo, Xiao-Xi; Gao, Linghuan; Wei, Ji-Fu; Xu, Tian-Rui (2016). "Novel serotonin receptor 2 (5-HT2R) agonists and antagonists: a patent review (2004-2014)". Expert Opinion on Therapeutic Patents. 26 (1): 89–106. doi:10.1517/13543776.2016.1113257. ISSN1744-7674. PMID26609882. S2CID10831801.
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