SB 242084 dihydrochloride is a selective, competitive and high-affinity (pKi=9.0) 5-HT2C receptor antagonist (crosses the blood-brain barrier). SB 242084 dihydrochloride increases basal activity of dopaminergic neurons in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) of the midbrain and dopamine release in the vomeronasal nucleus. SB 242084 dihydrochloride also increases mitochondrial gene expression and oxidative metabolism via 5-HT2A receptor. SB 242084 dihydrochloride has good research potential in the negative symptoms of anxiety, depression and schizophrenia, as well as in acute organ damage.