Norepinephrine releasing agent

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Norepinephrine

A norepinephrine releasing agent (NRA), also known as an adrenergic releasing agent, is a catecholaminergic type of drug that induces the release of norepinephrine (noradrenaline) and epinephrine (adrenaline) from the pre-synaptic neuron into the synapse. This in turn leads to increased extracellular concentrations of norepinephrine and epinephrine therefore an increase in adrenergic neurotransmission. [1] [2]

Contents

A closely related type of drug is a norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (NRI). Another class of drugs that stimulates adrenergic activity is the adrenergic receptor agonist class.

Uses and examples

NRAs are used for a variety of clinical indications including the following:

They are also used as recreational drugs, though this is typically reserved only for those that also induce the release of serotonin and/or dopamine like amphetamine, methamphetamine, MDMA, mephedrone, and 4-methylaminorex, among others. [3]

Cathine and cathinone are NRAs found naturally in Catha edulis . Ephedrine and pseudoephedrine are also found naturally in Ephedra sinica . Both of these plants are used medicinally (and recreationally as well regarding the former). The endogenous trace amines phenethylamine and tyramine are NRAs found in many animals, including humans.

Selective NRAs include ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, phenylpropanolamine, levoamphetamine, levomethamphetamine, and phentermine. These drugs also release dopamine to a much lesser extent however.

See also

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pseudoephedrine</span> Pharmaceutical drug

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor</span> Class of drug

A norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor or noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor or adrenergic reuptake inhibitor (ARI), is a type of drug that acts as a reuptake inhibitor for the neurotransmitters norepinephrine (noradrenaline) and epinephrine (adrenaline) by blocking the action of the norepinephrine transporter (NET). This in turn leads to increased extracellular concentrations of norepinephrine and epinephrine and therefore can increase adrenergic neurotransmission.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sympathomimetic drug</span> Substance that mimics effects of catecholamines

Sympathomimetic drugs are stimulant compounds which mimic the effects of endogenous agonists of the sympathetic nervous system. Examples of sympathomimetic effects include increases in heart rate, force of cardiac contraction, and blood pressure. The primary endogenous agonists of the sympathetic nervous system are the catecholamines, which function as both neurotransmitters and hormones. Sympathomimetic drugs are used to treat cardiac arrest and low blood pressure, or even delay premature labor, among other things.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Levoamphetamine</span> CNS stimulant and isomer of amphetamine

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Monoamine releasing agent</span> Class of compounds

A monoamine releasing agent (MRA), or simply monoamine releaser, is a drug that induces the release of a monoamine neurotransmitter from the presynaptic neuron into the synapse, leading to an increase in the extracellular concentrations of the neurotransmitter. Many drugs induce their effects in the body and/or brain via the release of monoamine neurotransmitters, e.g., trace amines, many substituted amphetamines, and related compounds.

A dopamine releasing agent (DRA) is a type of drug which induces the release of dopamine in the body and/or brain. No selective and robust DRAs are currently known. On the other hand, many releasing agents of both dopamine and norepinephrine and of serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine are known. Serotonin–dopamine releasing agents (SDRAs), for instance 5-chloro-αMT, are much more rare and are not selective for dopamine release but have also been developed. Examples of major NDRAs include the psychostimulants amphetamine and methamphetamine, while an example of an SNDRA is the entactogen methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA). These drugs are frequently used for recreational purposes and encountered as drugs of abuse. Selective DRAs, as well as NDRAs, have medical applications in the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

A serotonin–norepinephrine–dopamine releasing agent (SNDRA), also known as a triple releasing agent (TRA), is a type of drug which induces the release of serotonin, norepinephrine/epinephrine, and dopamine in the brain and body. SNDRAs produce euphoriant, entactogen, and psychostimulant effects, and are almost exclusively encountered as recreational drugs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Serotonin–norepinephrine releasing agent</span> Drug class

A serotonin–norepinephrine releasing agent (SNRA) is a type of drug which induces the release of serotonin and norepinephrine in the body and/or brain.

References

  1. Keith Parker; Laurence Brunton; Goodman, Louis Sanford; Lazo, John S.; Gilman, Alfred (2006). Goodman & Gilman's The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics (11 ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill. ISBN   0-07-142280-3. Archived from the original on 2011-11-18. Retrieved 2011-06-26.
  2. Thomas L. Lemke; David A. Williams, eds. (2007). Foye's Principles of Medicinal Chemistry (6 ed.). Baltimore: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. ISBN   978-0-7817-6879-5.[ permanent dead link ]
  3. Gavai, Anand K.; Bouzembrak, Yamine; van den Bulk, Leonieke M.; Liu, Ningjing; van Overbeeke, Lennert F. D.; van den Heuvel, Lukas J.; Mol, Hans; Marvin, Hans J. P. (2021-12-01). "Artificial intelligence to detect unknown stimulants from scientific literature and media reports". Food Control. 130: 108360. doi: 10.1016/j.foodcont.2021.108360 . ISSN   0956-7135.