Orciprenaline

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Overview

Orciprenaline (INN, also known as metaproterenol) is a bronchodilator used in the treatment of asthma.^[1]^[2] Orciprenaline is a moderately selective beta₂-adrenergic receptor agonist that stimulates receptors of the smooth muscle in the lungs, uterus, and vasculature supplying skeletal muscle, with minimal or no effect on alpha-adrenergic receptors. The pharmacologic effects of beta adrenergic agonist drugs, such as orciprenaline, are at least in part attributable to stimulation through beta adrenergic receptors of intracellular adenyl cyclase, the enzyme which catalyzes the conversion of ATP to cAMP. Increased cAMP levels are associated with relaxation of bronchial smooth muscle and inhibition of release of mediators of immediate hypersensitivity from many cells, especially from mast cells.

Possible side effects

tremor
nervousness
dizziness
weakness
headache
nausea
tachycardia

Rare side effects that could be life-threatening

increased difficulty breathing
rapid or increased heart rate
irregular heartbeat
chest pain or discomfort

Brand names

Alupent
Metaprel

References

↑ Knox C, Law V, Jewison T, Liu P, Ly S, Frolkis A, Pon A, Banco K, Mak C, Neveu V, Djoumbou Y, Eisner R, Guo AC, Wishart DS (2011). “DrugBank 3.0: a comprehensive resource for omics research on drugs”. Nucleic Acids Res. 39 (Database issue): D1035–41. doi:10.1093/nar/gkq1126. PMC 3013709. PMID 21059682.
↑ Wishart DS, Knox C, Guo AC, Cheng D, Shrivastava S, Tzur D, Gautam B, Hassanali M (2008). “DrugBank: a knowledgebase for drugs, drug actions and drug targets”. Nucleic Acids Res. 36 (Database issue): D901–6. doi:10.1093/nar/gkm958. PMC 2238889. PMID 18048412.

[1] Knox C, Law V, Jewison T, Liu P, Ly S, Frolkis A, Pon A, Banco K, Mak C, Neveu V, Djoumbou Y, Eisner R, Guo AC, Wishart DS (2011). “DrugBank 3.0: a comprehensive resource for omics research on drugs”. Nucleic Acids Res. 39 (Database issue): D1035–41. doi:10.1093/nar/gkq1126. PMC 3013709. PMID 21059682.

[2] Wishart DS, Knox C, Guo AC, Cheng D, Shrivastava S, Tzur D, Gautam B, Hassanali M (2008). “DrugBank: a knowledgebase for drugs, drug actions and drug targets”. Nucleic Acids Res. 36 (Database issue): D901–6. doi:10.1093/nar/gkm958. PMC 2238889. PMID 18048412.

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