adrenergic drugs

• Alpha 1 receptors are located

  • Pupils
  • Blood vessels
  • Liver
  • Sphincter
  • Kidney
• Alpha 2 receptors

  • pre synaptic neuron
  • pancreas - decrease insulin release
• Beta 1 receptors

  • Heart
  • kidney = increase in renin
• Beta 2 Receptors

  • Smooth muscle of the lungs (vasodilation)
  • Bronchioles (bronchodilation)
  • GIT (decrease motility)
  • Pancreas(increase insulin)
  • Ovary (relaxation)
• Beta 3 Receptors

  • Adipose Tissue (lipogenolysis)
  • Urinary bladder (relaxation)
• Adrenergic Agonist are classified into 2

  Catecholamines

  Non catecholamines
• Catecholamines

  • Injectable
  • poor cns penetration
  • short duration of action
  • ortho-hydroxy phenol + alkylamines
• Non catecholamines

  • oral
  • good cns penetration
  • longer duration of action
  • only one OH
• Direct acting - they are directly bind into the receptors

  • Non selective
  • Selective
• Direct Agonist - Non selective

  • Epinephrine - Alpha 1, Beta 1, and Beta 2
  • Norepinephrine - Alpha 1 and Beta 1
  • Dopamine - increase dose - Beta 1 increase further - Alpha 1
• Epinephrine effects

  • Increase in cardiac output
  • Bronchodilation
  • Vasoconstriction
• Direct acting agonists :Selective : Alpha 1

  • Oxymetazoline
  • Phenylephrine - used as decongestants
• Direct acting agonists :Selective : Alpha 2


  Clonidine - decrease the release of NE
• Direct acting agonists :Selective : Beta 1

  • Dobutamine - Used for CHF patients
• Direct acting agonists :Selective : Beta 2

  • SABA = Albuterol and terbutaline
  • LABA + steroids like fluticasone = Salmeterol and Formoterol
• Direct acting agonists : Selective : Beta 3


  Mirabegon
• Indirect Acting agonist = they inhibit the metabolizing enzymes

  • Cocaine
  • Amphetamine
  • they are stimulants that increase BP and HR
• Mixed Acting Agonists

  • Ephedrine - not available because of toxic effect
  • Pseudoephedrine - decongestants
• Adrenergic Drugs : Origin, Storage, Release

  Origin : Metyrosine

  Storage : Reserpine

  Release : Guanadrel and Guanethidine
• Adrenergic Antagonist : Alpha blocker : Non selective

  • affecting alpha 1 and 2
  • Phentolamine
  • Phenoxybenzamine - Pheochromocytoma = They have tumor on their Adrenal Medulla (Increase in release of Norepinephrine and Epinephrine)
• Adrenergic Antagonist : Alpha 1 blockers : Blood vessels

  • Prazosin
  • Doxazosin
  • Terazosin
• Adrenergic Antagonist : Alpha 1 : BPH

  • Alfuzosin
  • Tamsulosin
  • Silodusin
• Alpha 2 blockers

  Yohimbine = vasodilation
• Beta blockers : 1st generation : non selective (beta 1 and beta 2)

  • Propanolol
  • Pindolol
  • Nadolol
  • Timolol
  • Sotalol
• Beta blockers : 2nd generation : selective (beta 1 )

  • Acebutolol
  • Atenolol
  • Bisoprolol
  • Esmolol
  • Metoprolol
• Beta blockers : 3rd generation : non selective (alpha 1 and beta 1)

  • Carvedilol
  • Labetalol
• Beta blockers : 3rd generation : non selective (beta 1 only)

  • Nebivolol
  • Betaxolol