Prostaglandins sympathomimetics

Adrenaline (epinephrine) is a sympathomimetic agent that causes bronchodilatation. It is used to relieve bronchospasm in anaphylactic shock reactions. Histamine, kinins and prostaglandins, such as prostaglandin E2, are inflammatory mediators. In response to allergic stimuli, inflammatory mediators may cause bronchoconstrictions. Guaifenesin is an expectorant preparation that increases bronchial secretions to promote the expulsion of the mucus coughed up. 

Major revisions of the chapters on sympathomimetic, sympathoplegic, antipsychotic, antidepressant, antidiabetic, antiinflammatory, and antiviral drugs, prostaglandins, nitric oxide, hypothalamic and pituitary hormones, and immunopharmacology... 

Topical beta-blockers can precipitate asthma and therefore must not be used to treat this patient s glaucoma. Topical prostaglandin analogues (e.g. latanoprost drops) are used as first-line treatment of glaucoma together with a sympathomimetic agent, brimonidine, as an alternative to beta-blockers in asthmatic and COPD patients. 

Drug treatment involves use of /3-adrenergic antagonists, sympathomimetic agents, parasympathomimetics in conjunction with pilocarpine hydrochloride or pilocarpine, carbonic anhydrase inhibitors or prostaglandin-related drugs. 

Severe systemic hypertension developed in a patient who took indometacin shortly after taking an appetite suppressant (Trimolets) containing phenylpropanolamine (20). The hypertension was attributed to inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis by indometacin, which exacerbated the sympathomimetic effects of phenylpropanolamine. However, in 14 young, healthy, normotensive women who were randomized double-blind to modified-release phenylpropanolamine 75 mg/day or placebo for 4 days, modified-release indometacin 75 mg bd had no significant effect on mean systolic or diastolic blood pressures (21). 

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