Alpha-2 blocker
Alpha-2 blockers (or α2 blockers) are a subset of the alpha blocker class of drugs and are antagonists to the α2 adrenergic receptor. They are mainly used in research, having found limited clinical application in human medicine. They are extensively used in veterinary medicine to reverse the effects of alpha-2 agonist drugs used as sedatives, like xylazine, medetomidine and dexmedetomidine. Alpha-2 blockers increase noradrenaline release.
Uses
Yohimbine, historically used as an aphrodisiac, is sometimes used in veterinary medicine (although now largely replaced by atipamezole) for reversing the effects of α2s such as medetomidine that are used as sedatives during surgery.[1]
The tetracyclic antidepressants mianserin and mirtazapine are α2 blockers, although their efficacy as antidepressants may come from their activity at other receptor sites.[citation needed]
Mechanistically, α2 blockers increase adrenergic, dopaminergic and serotonergic neurotransmitters and induce insulin secretion, decreasing blood sugar levels.[2]
Withdrawal from α2 blockers can be difficult or dangerous as the global downregulation of neurotransmitters may cause symptoms of depression and other neurological problems, and increased blood sugar levels together with decreased insulin sensitivity can cause diabetes.[citation needed] Moreover, reduced microcirculation together with adrenaline supersensitivity in organs such as liver can occur.[citation needed]
Examples
Examples include atipamezole,[3] efaroxan, fipamezole, idazoxan,[4] yohimbine, and rauwolscine, phentolamine.
References
Page Template:Reflist/styles.css has no content.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Lemke, KA (June 2004). "Perioperative use of selective alpha-2 agonists and antagonists in small animals". The Canadian Veterinary Journal. 45 (6): 475–80. PMC 548630. PMID 15283516.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Fagerholm, Veronica; Haaparanta, Merja; Scheinin, Mika. "α2-Adrenoceptor Regulation of Blood Glucose Homeostasis". Basic & Clinical Pharmacology & Toxicology. doi:10.1111/j.1742-7843.2011.00699.x. PMID 21418144.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Haapalinna A, Leino T, Heinonen E (November 2003). "The alpha 2-adrenoceptor antagonist atipamezole potentiates anti-Parkinsonian effects and can reduce the adverse cardiovascular effects of dopaminergic drugs in rats". Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Arch. Pharmacol. 368 (5): 342–51. doi:10.1007/s00210-003-0827-z. PMID 14566451. S2CID 23897064.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Chopin P, Colpaert FC, Marien M (February 1999). "Effects of alpha-2 adrenoceptor agonists and antagonists on circling behavior in rats with unilateral 6-hydroxydopamine lesions of the nigrostriatal pathway". J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther. 288 (2): 798–804. PMID 9918591.
External links
- Page Template:Sister-inline/styles.css has no content.Script error: No such module "Sister project logo". Media related to Script error: No such module "Commons link". at Wikimedia Commons
Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'Module:Navbox/configuration' not found. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'Module:Navbox/configuration' not found.
