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Guanethidine and Related Compounds

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Pharmacology of Antihypertensive Therapeutics

Part of the book series: Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology ((HEP,volume 93 / 1))

Abstract

Guanethidine and related compounds have collectively been called adrenergic blocking drugs because their major pharmacological action is to prevent the release of noradrenaline from postganglionic neurons in response to sympathetic nerve stimulations. Guanethidine has other actions on catecholamine metabolism (see Sect. 2) and can cause significant tissue depletion of catecholamines. It does not, however, interfere with release of catecholamines from the adrenal medulla and does not produce parasympathetic blockade.

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Authors
  1. W. J. Louis
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  2. L. G. Howes
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. German Institute for High Blood Pressure Research and Department of Pharmacology, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 366, D-6900, Heidelberg, Germany

    Detlev Ganten M.D, Ph.D.

  2. Medical College of Ohio, CS10008, 300 Arlington Avenue, Toledo, OH, 43699, USA

    Patrick J. Mulrow M.D.

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Louis, W.J., Howes, L.G. (1990). Guanethidine and Related Compounds. In: Ganten, D., Mulrow, P.J. (eds) Pharmacology of Antihypertensive Therapeutics. Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology, vol 93 / 1. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-74209-5_8

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