Alpha-2 Agonists
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
Alpha-2 agonists have sedative, anxiolytic and analgesic effects.
Mechanism of Action
Alpha-2 agonists act on alpha-2 adrenoreceptors, and mimic the effects of the actual ligand binding. The sedative and anxiolytic effects arise from this process leading to pre-synaptic inhibition of noradrenaline release.
Actions
Alpha-2 agonists have a wide range of actions, due to the presence of alpha-2 receptors throughout the body. The actions most useful pharmacologically are sedation, anxiolysis and analgesia.