Sympathomimetic

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In medicine and pharmacology, sympathomimetics are "drugs that mimic the effects of stimulating postganglionic adrenergic sympathetic nerves. Included here are drugs that directly stimulate adrenergic receptors and drugs that act indirectly by provoking the release of adrenergic transmitters."^[1]

Examples of cardiotonic agents include:

• Dobutamine [r]: A beta-2 agonist catecholamine that has cardiac stimulant action without evoking vasoconstriction or tachycardia; it is proposed as a cardiotonic after myocardial infarction or open heart surgery, and used as a pharmacological stressor in cardiac stress testing. ^[e]
• Dopamine [r]: A monoamine neurotransmitter formed in the brain by the decarboxylation of dopa and essential to the normal functioning of the central nervous system. ^[e]
• Epinephrine [r]: A hormone (adrenalin) adrenergic systems-stimulator used in asthma and cardiac failure. ^[e]
• Isoproterenol [r]: Isopropyl analog of epinephrine; beta-sympathomimetic that acts on the heart, bronchi, skeletal muscle, alimentary tract, etc. It is used mainly as bronchodilator and heart stimulant. ^[e]
• Norepinephrine [r]: Precursor of epinephrine that is secreted by the adrenal medulla and is a widespread central and autonomic neurotransmitter. Norepinephrine is the principal transmitter of most postganglionic sympathetic fibers and of the diffuse projection system in the brain arising from the locus ceruleus. It is also found in plants and is used pharmacologically as a sympathomimetic. ^[e]

Examples of both cardiotonic agents and vasoconstrictor agents include:

• Epinephrine [r]: A hormone (adrenalin) adrenergic systems-stimulator used in asthma and cardiac failure. ^[e]
• Norepinephrine [r]: Precursor of epinephrine that is secreted by the adrenal medulla and is a widespread central and autonomic neurotransmitter. Norepinephrine is the principal transmitter of most postganglionic sympathetic fibers and of the diffuse projection system in the brain arising from the locus ceruleus. It is also found in plants and is used pharmacologically as a sympathomimetic. ^[e]

Examples of bronchodilator agents include:

• Terbutaline [r]: A selective beta-2 adrenergic agonist used as a bronchodilator and tocolytic. ^[e]

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