Category: Drugs acting on autonomic nervous system

The drugs can be classified by whether they enhance the functions of the sympathetic system or interrupt those functions. A drug that enhances adrenergic function is known as a sympathomimetic drug, whereas a drug that interrupts adrenergic function is a sympatholytic drug.

Although most of the incidences of drug-induced OH occur when the pharmacology of the drug interferes with vascular homeostasis, several drugs may produce autonomic dysfunction by producing injury to autonomic nerves.

Some examples are:

Nicotine can induce elevation of blood pressure and heart rate and deregulation of cardiac autonomic function, mainly indicated by heart rate variability (HRV), via activation of the sympathetic nervous system with release of norepinephrine and epinephrine.

Mechanism of action At the synapse, acetylcholine is released from the presynaptic neuron. Acetylcholine can either bind to the receptors on the postsynaptic neuron to continue transmission of nerve signals or bind to receptors on tissues of the organ to cause a physiological response.