Beta adrenoceptor agonists

Cowen, P. J., Grahame-Smith, D. G., Green, A. R., and Heal, D. J. (1982) Beta-adrenoceptor agonists enhance 5-hydroxytryptamine-mediated behavioural responses. Br. J. Pharmacol.. 76 265-270. 

Ortmann, R., Martin, S., Radeke, E., and Delini-Stula, A. (1981) Interaction of beta-adrenoceptor agonists with the serotonergic system in rat brain. A behavioral study using the L-5-HTP syndrome. Naunyn Schmiedebergs Arch. Pharmacol, 316 225-230. 

The bronchi have a rich parasympathetic innervation but there is no sympathetic innervation of bronchial smooth muscle and all sympathetic effects are due to circulating adrenaline (epinephrine and noradrenaline (norepinephrine) acting on (32 adrenoceptors. Stimulation of these receptors mediates bronchodilatation by relaxation of bronchial smooth muscle. Beta-adrenoceptor agonists also have limited antiinflammatory actions. They inhibit mediator release from mast cells and may stimulate... 

G. P. Anderson, A. Linden, and K. F. Rabe, Why are long-acting beta-adrenoceptor agonists long-acting Eur. Respir. J. 7 569 (1994). 

The drugs that were developed some 40 years ago as general beta-adrenoceptor agonists have largely fallen into disuse with the development of more selective betai-adrenoceptor agonists (for use in cardiac failure) and beta2-adrenoceptor agonists (for use in airways disease and threatened premature labor). 

Beta-adrenoceptor agonists can prodnce or worsen hypoxia acutely in patients with asthma by increasing ventilation-perfusion inequality. It is not known whether this effect is clinically important in patients with asthma not severe enough to require hospital treatment (where supplementary oxygen is standard therapy). 

An alternative hypothesis has been proposed to explain why beta2-agonists lose their bronchoprotective effect while retaining a bronchodilator effect. The beta2-agonists currently available for treating asthma consist of racemic mixtures of equal amounts of two stereoisomers, the i -isomer (or L-isomer), which is the beta-adrenoceptor agonist, and the 5-isomer (o-isomer) which is inactive. 

Connacher AA, Jung RT, Mitchell PE. Weight loss in obese subjects on a restricted diet given BRL 26830A, a new atypical beta adrenoceptor agonist. BMJ (Chn Res Ed) 1988 296(6631) 1217-20. 

Isoetarine is a beta-adrenoceptor agonist bronchodilator given orally in a modified-release formulation (SED-13, 363) (SEDA-21, 184). It is slightly more beta2-selective than isoprenaline but has a beta-blocking metabolite. 

The beta-adrenoceptor agonist effect is sufficient to cause fetal tachycardia when isoxsuprine is given intravenously in late pregnancy, although one large survey suggested that it may be better tolerated by the mother (as regards cardiac and stimulant effects) than salbutamol (SED-12, 313). The fact that maternal blood... 

In a review of almost 800 patients randomized to beta-adrenoceptor agonists or nifedipine, the latter was associated with more frequent prolongation of pregnancy, a lower incidence of respiratory distress syndrome, and lower incidences of maternal and fetal adverse effects (44). 

A severe and life-threatening hypotensive reaction in patients with quadriplegia after terbutaline medication warrants a warning against indiscriminate use of beta-adrenoceptor agonists in the absence of autonomic spinal function (SEDA-8,145). 

Hofmann, F., and Zong, X.-G. (1995). In "Beta Adrenoceptor Agonists and the Airways" (R. Small, ed.), pp. 27-33. Royal Society of Medicine Press, London. 

Ruffolo, R.R. (1991) Chirality in alpha- and beta-adrenoceptor agonists and antagonists. Tetrahedron 47 4953-4980. 

Alpha adrenoceptor agonists Beta adrenoceptor agonists Beta adrenoceptor antagonists ACE inhibitors... 

The most commonly used bronchodUators are the beta-adrenoceptor agonists. In some patients, a muscarinic blocking drug (eg, ipratropium) has a useful bronchodilating effect. Cromolyn and nedocromil inhibit the degranulation of mast cells and are useful as prophylactic agents in some patients. They are not useful in an acute attack. Systemic corticosteroids are reserved for patients with severe asthma who do not respond adequately to other agents, but inhaled steroids (eg, beclomethasone) are standard prophylactic therapy for aU individuals with moderate or severe recurrent asthma... 

Serum potassium Myocardial function is critically dependent on serum potassium level. Drugs that cause hyperkalemia include beta-adrenoceptor blockers, digitalis (in suicidal overdose), fiuoride, and lithium. Drugs associated with hypokalemia include barium, beta-adrenoceptor agonists, methylxanthines, most diuretics, and toluene. 

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