Reuptake inhibitor

Reuptake inhibitors (RIs) are a type of reuptake modulators. It is a drug that inhibits the plasmalemmaltransporter-mediated reuptake of a neurotransmitter from the synapse into the pre-synaptic neuron. This leads to an increase in extracellularconcentrations of the neurotransmitter and an increase in neurotransmission. Various drugs exert their psychological and physiological effects through reuptake inhibition, including many antidepressants and psychostimulants.

Most known reuptake inhibitors affect the monoamine neurotransmittersserotonin, norepinephrine (and epinephrine), and dopamine. However, there are also a number of pharmaceuticals and research chemicals that act as reuptake inhibitors for other neurotransmitters such as glutamate, γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), glycine, adenosine, choline (the precursor of acetylcholine), and the endocannabinoids, among others.