Tag: Adrenergic

While both phenylephrine and homatropine are used to dilate pupils, they belong to different pharmacological classes, with distinct mechanisms of action and effects. A key difference lies in their approach to pupil dilation and whether they also cause paralysis of the focusing muscle, a condition known as cycloplegia.

According to a 2024 meta-analysis, norepinephrine significantly improves 28-day mortality in patients with septic shock, positioning it as a first-line vasopressor. So, what does a noradrenaline injection do in a critical care setting? It primarily acts as a potent medication to raise dangerously low blood pressure, thereby maintaining organ perfusion.

Ephedrine, a sympathomimetic amine, was first introduced for medical use in the United States in 1926 and has a complex history with various applications, both medicinal and recreational. It is primarily used today in hospital settings for treating clinically significant hypotension, particularly during anesthesia.

Catecholamines are a group of amines with a core catechol structure that function as critical neurotransmitters and hormones, including dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine. Medications within the broader category of **what drugs are under catecholamines?** include these endogenous substances as well as numerous synthetic agents and drugs that modulate their activity.

As a beta-blocker prescribed to over 9 million people in the United States in 2023, atenolol's mechanism of action is distinctly adrenergic, not cholinergic. This medication acts by targeting and blocking specific beta-1 adrenergic receptors to regulate heart rate and blood pressure.

Ephedrine, a compound derived from the *Ephedra* plant and used in traditional Chinese medicine for thousands of years, is a sympathomimetic amine with diverse medical functions. While historically used for various ailments, its modern clinical applications are highly specific and regulated, primarily leveraging its ability to increase blood pressure and act as a bronchodilator.