Dictionary of Allergies .. Adrenergic receptor antagonists

Adrenergic receptor antagonists

Adrenergic agents aimed at modulating the asthmatic syndrome e.g. α1- antagonists, have not proved  to be as effective as β- agonists in treating asthmatics. Despite this, clinical circumstances often arise, such as the patient with hypertension and asthma, where the use of an α1- antagonist as prazosin may be beneficial.

Prazosin, indoramin, and an analogous of prazosin, doxazosin, which has a high antagonist and selective action for post-synaptic alpha-1 adrenergic receptors and a longer half-life. Several and recent observations show that these drugs do not interfere with the respiratory function principal parameters, both in healthy and in asthmatic or chronic bronchopathy subjects, but produce an appreciable improvement of these parameters[1]. Asthmatics should avoid the use of β- antagonists.

References

Malerba M, Agabiti-Rosei E. Respiratory effects of antihypertensive agents acting on alpha adrenergic receptors. Recenti Prog Med. 1991 Dec;82(12):682-5