Alpha-adrenergic agonist
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Overview
An adrenergic alpha-agonist is a drug which selectively stimulates alpha adrenergic receptors. The alpha-adrenergic receptor has two subclasses α1 and α2. Although complete selectivity between receptor agonism is rarely achieved, phenylephrine is an α1 agonist, while clonidine and methyldopa are α2 partial agonists [1].
An example is xylazine.
Alpha-adrenergic agonists are used in the treatment of glaucoma by decreasing the production of aqueous fluid by the ciliary bodies of the eye.
External links
- Adrenergic+alpha-Agonists at the US National Library of Medicine Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
- Template:MeshPharmaList
Template:Receptor agonists and antagonists
- ↑ Pharmacology (3rd Edition) Rang, Dale and Ritter