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Alpha‐2 and imidazoline receptor agonistsTheir pharmacology and therapeutic role
Author(s) -
Khan Z. P.,
Ferguson C. N.,
Jones R. M.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
anaesthesia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.839
H-Index - 117
eISSN - 1365-2044
pISSN - 0003-2409
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2044.1999.00659.x
Subject(s) - dexmedetomidine , medicine , clonidine , imidazoline receptor , alpha 2 adrenergic receptor , pharmacology , analgesic , blood pressure , clinical pharmacology , alpha (finance) , bradycardia , anesthesia , agonist , receptor , sedation , heart rate , surgery , construct validity , patient satisfaction
Clonidine has proved to be a clinically useful adjunct in clinical anaesthetic practice as well as in chronic pain therapy because it has both anaesthetic and analgesic‐sparing activity. The more selective alpha‐2 adrenoceptor agonists, dexmedetomidine and mivazerol, may also have a role in providing haemodynamic stability in patients who are at risk of peri‐operative ischaemia. The side‐effects of hypotension and bradycardia have limited the routine use of alpha‐2 adrenoceptor agonists. Investigations into the molecular pharmacology of alpha‐2 adrenoceptors have elucidated their role in the control of wakefulness, blood pressure and antinociception. We discuss the pharmacology of alpha‐2 adrenoceptors and their therapeutic role in this review. The alpha‐2 adrenoceptor agonists are agonists at imidazoline receptors which are involved in central blood pressure control. Selective imidazoline agonists are now available for clinical use as antihypertensive agents and their pharmacology is discussed.