What are sympathomimetics?
The general definition of sympathomimetics is a substance that mimics the activated sympathetic nervous system. The sympathetic nervous system is part of an autonomic nervous system or nervous system that is not under conscious. This part of the autonomic nervous system is activated in response to danger and prepares the body to respond to a dangerous situation. This is also known as the reaction of "fighting or flight".
In principle, a sympathetic reaction temporarily closes processes that could slow down a person, such as digestion of food or urine production. This response also accelerates processes that allow energy explosions such as increased heart rate, increased blood pressure, elevated blood into the brain and rapid hydrolysis of glycogen for muscle energy. In addition, bronchial tubes will be expanded or expanded to preparation for greater oxygen requirements. Medical use of sympathomimetics is usually limited to serious or life -threatening conditions such as heart attack, dangerously low blood pressure, hemorrhagiA shock or a severe asthma attack that results in an inability to breathe. They can also be used to prevent premature work.
catecholamines are the most common group of sympathomimetics and include epinephrine, norepinephrine and dopamine. Epinephrine or adrenaline is a hormone naturally produced by the body in response to fear or strong anger and is a frequently used sympathomimetic drug under the above -mentioned emergency conditions. The natural intermediate in the body during the synthesis of epinephrine is dopamine, catecholamine best known for its effects on the brain. Dopamine can be used to alleviate some symptoms of Parkinson's disease.
sympathomimetics can also be used to suppress appetite for the treatment of people who are morbidly obese. Because the effects of sympathomimetics suppressing appetite usually last only a few weeks, they are only effective as a short -term solution. Other examples of sympathomimetics areFor illegal stimulation drugs such as cocaine and methamphetamine.
Long -term use of sympathomimetics can be very dangerous. In addition to their generally addictive nature, their strong stimulation effects on the nervous system can lead to high blood pressure, dangerously high heart rate and abnormal heart rhythm or cardiac arrhythmia. For these reasons, these types of drugs are used only in the short term and usually only under emergency conditions. In addition, they should only be used under constant medical supervision.