Alpha-adrenergic blockers: mechanism of action, blood pressure control, and effects of lipoprotein metabolism.
Article Details
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Nash DT
Alpha-adrenergic blockers: mechanism of action, blood pressure control, and effects of lipoprotein metabolism.
Clin Cardiol. 1990 Nov;13(11):764-72.
- PubMed ID
- 1980236 [ View in PubMed]
- Abstract
The sympathetic nervous system plays a major role in the pathogenesis of essential hypertension and is mediated by the alpha and beta receptors. The alpha receptor is divided into two types, alpha 1 and alpha 2, based on response to epinephrine and norepinephrine. alpha 1-Adrenergic receptors have a high affinity for drugs such as prazosin, doxazosin, and terazosin, which act to reduce blood pressure by selective blockade of the receptor. These agents provide a rational approach to the treatment of hypertension by correcting elevated total peripheral resistance, the fundamental hemodynamic abnormality in essential hypertension. In contrast, early alpha-adrenergic receptor blockers nonselectively blocked both alpha 1 and alpha 2 receptors and were unsuitable as antihypertensive agents because they induced tachycardia and patients developed a tolerance to them rapidly. alpha 1-Adrenergic blockers also have beneficial effects on plasma lipoproteins, tending to decrease levels of triglycerides and cholesterol and increase levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and the HDL cholesterol/total cholesterol ratio. beta-Adrenergic blockers, such as propranolol and atenolol, have been shown to have an adverse effect on the lipid profile by tending to increase levels of triglycerides and decrease HDL cholesterol. A number of mechanisms contribute to these effects, in particular, adrenergic modulation of lipoprotein lipase and the triglyceride secretion rate. Doxazosin has been shown to increase the activity of LDL receptors, which may be partly responsible for its beneficial effect on plasma lipids and lipoproteins.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
DrugBank Data that Cites this Article
- Drug Targets
Drug Target Kind Organism Pharmacological Action Actions Epinephrine Alpha-2A adrenergic receptor Protein Humans YesAgonistDetails Epinephrine Alpha-2B adrenergic receptor Protein Humans YesAgonistDetails Norepinephrine Alpha-2A adrenergic receptor Protein Humans YesAgonistDetails Norepinephrine Alpha-2B adrenergic receptor Protein Humans YesAgonistDetails Norepinephrine Alpha-2C adrenergic receptor Protein Humans YesAgonistDetails - Drug Interactions
Drugs Interaction Integrate drug-drug
interactions in your softwareAlbuterolProfenamine The therapeutic efficacy of Salbutamol can be decreased when used in combination with Profenamine. AlbuterolORM-12741 The therapeutic efficacy of Salbutamol can be decreased when used in combination with ORM-12741. ArbutamineVerapamil The therapeutic efficacy of Arbutamine can be decreased when used in combination with Verapamil. ArbutamineProfenamine The therapeutic efficacy of Arbutamine can be decreased when used in combination with Profenamine. ArbutamineORM-12741 The therapeutic efficacy of Arbutamine can be decreased when used in combination with ORM-12741.