| neuromuscular blocking agents | Drugs that interrupt transmission of nerve impulses at the skeletal neuromuscular junction. They can be of two types, competitive, stabilizing blockers (neuromuscular nondepolarising agents) or noncompetitive, depolarising agents (neuromuscular depolarising agents). Both prevent acetylcholine from triggering the muscle contraction and they are used as anaesthesia adjuvants, as relaxants during electroshock, in convulsive states, etc. (12 Dec 1998) |
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| nondepolarising neuromuscular blocking agent | A compound that paralyzes skeletal muscle primarily by inhibiting transmission of nerve impulses at the neuromuscular junction rather than by affecting the membrane potention of motor endplate or muscle fibres. (05 Mar 2000) |
| adrenergic | <neurology, physiology> Refers to neurons that use catecholamines as neurotransmitters at a synapse when a nerve impulse passes i.e. The sympathetic fibres. Also refers to neurones that are activated by, characteristic of or secreting adrenaline (adrenaline) or substances with similar activity. (15 Jan 1998) |
| adrenergic agents | Drugs that act on adrenergic receptors or affect the life cycle of adrenergic transmitters. Included here are adrenergic agonists and antagonists and agents that affect the synthesis, storage, uptake, metabolism, or release of adrenergic transmitters. (12 Dec 1998) |
| adrenergic agonists | Drugs that bind to and activate adrenergic receptors. (12 Dec 1998) |
| adrenergic alpha-agonists | Drugs that selectively bind to and activate alpha adrenergic receptors. (12 Dec 1998) |
| adrenergic alpha-antagonists | Drugs that bind to but do not activate alpha-adrenergic receptors thereby blocking the actions of endogenous or exogenous adrenergic agonists. Adrenergic alpha-antagonists are used in the treatment of hypertension, vasospasm, peripheral vascular disease, shock, and pheochromocytoma. (12 Dec 1998) |
| adrenergic amine | An agent that evokes responses similar to those produced by adrenergic nerve activity (e.g., epinephrine, ephedrine, isoproterenol). Synonym: adrenergic amine, adrenomimetic amine, sympathetic amine. (05 Mar 2000) |
| adrenergic antagonists | Drugs that bind to but do not activate adrenergic receptors. Adrenergic antagonists block the actions of the endogenous adrenergic transmitters epinephrine and norepinephrine. (12 Dec 1998) |
| adrenergic beta-agonists | Drugs that selectively bind to and activate beta-adrenergic receptors. (12 Dec 1998) |
| adrenergic beta-antagonists | Drugs that bind to but do not activate beta-adrenergic receptors thereby blocking the actions of beta-adrenergic agonists. Adrenergic beta-antagonists are used for treatment of hypertension, cardiac arrythmias, angina pectoris, glaucoma, migraine headaches, and anxiety. (12 Dec 1998) |
| adrenergic blockade | Selective inhibition by a drug of the responses of effector cells to adrenergic sympathetic nerve impulses (sympatholytic) and to epinephrine and related amines (adrenolytic). (05 Mar 2000) |
| adrenergic bronchodilator | <pharmacology> A medication that acts to dilate (enlarge) the lumen of the airway to allow the unrestricted passage of air. These medications are commonly given to those with asthma who manifest wheezing. Examples include: theophylline, aminophylline, adrenaline, Alupent, metaproterenol, isoproterenol, Ventolin, Proventil, bitolterol, salmeterol, pirbuterol and albuterol. See: wheezing. (27 Sep 1997) |
| adrenergic fibres | Nerve fibres liberating catecholamines at a synapse after an impulse. (12 Dec 1998) |
| adrenergic receptors | Reactive components of effector tissues, most of which are innervated by adrenergic postganglionic fibres of the sympathetic nervous system. Such receptor's can be activated by norepinephrine and/or epinephrine and by various adrenergic drugs; receptor activation results in a change in effector tissue function, such as contraction of arteriolar muscles or relaxation of bronchial muscles; adrenergic receptor's are divided into alpha-receptor's and beta-receptor's, on the basis of their response to various adrenergic activating and blocking agents. Synonym: adrenoceptor, adrenoreceptors. (05 Mar 2000) |