ALPHA RECEPTOR AGONIST TOXICITY

Course overview

ALPHA-ADRENERGIC AGONIST TOXICITY IS DUE TO A BROAD GROUP OF PHARMACEUTICAL AGENTS KNOWN AS ALPHA AGONISTS, WHICH CAN BE FURTHER BROKEN DOWN INTO CENTRAL ALPHA-2 AGONISTS AND PERIPHERAL ALPHA-1 AGONISTS. STIMULATION OF CENTRAL ALPHA-2 RECEPTORS CAUSES DECREASED SECRETION OF CATECHOLAMINES THROUGH A NEGATIVE FEEDBACK MECHANISM. STIMULATION OF PERIPHERAL ALPHA-1 RECEPTORS PRIMARILY INCREASES BLOOD PRESSURE VIA INDUCED VASOCONSTRICTION. ALPHA-ADRENERGIC AGONIST TOXICITY IS OF PRIMARY CONCERN WITH ALPHA-2 ADRENERGIC AGONIST XENOBIOTICS THROUGH THE RESULTING DEPLETION OF CATECHOLAMINES ASSOCIATED WITH THESE AGENTS; HOWEVER, THERE ARE MANY TOPICAL ALPHA-1 AGONISTS THAT WHEN MISUSED CAUSE SIMILAR TOXICITY. THIS ACTIVITY ILLUSTRATES THE PATHOPHYSIOLOGY AND TYPICAL PRESENTATION OF ALPHA-ADRENERGIC AGONIST TOXICITY AND DISCUSSES THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN EVALUATING AND MANAGING THE CONDITION TO ACHIEVE BETTER CLINICAL OUTCOMES.