VASODILATOR

'Vasodilation' is a process by which blood vessels in the body become wider following the relaxation of the smooth muscle in the vessel wall. This will reduce blood pressure - since there is more room for the blood.
Vasodilation also occurs in superficial blood vessels of warm-blooded animals when their ambient environment is hot; this process diverts the flow of heated blood to the skin of the animal, where heat can be more easily released into the atmosphere. The opposite physiological process is vasoconstriction.
'Vasomotor' refers to the muscles and nerves controlling the process of vasodilation.
A 'vasodilator' is a substance that causes vasodilation. Several vasodilators are used as drugs which may, for example, allow blood to flow more easily around a clot.
Flushing may be a physiological response to vasodilators.

Contents

Natural vasodilators and Drugs that Exploit Them

Natural vasodilators and Drugs that Exploit Them

★ Absence of high levels of environmental noise

★ Absence of high levels of illumination

★ Adenosine

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★ Adenocard - this is primarily used as an anti-arrhythmic.

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★ Alpha blockers (block the constricting effect of adrenaline).

★ Amyl nitrite and other nitrites are often used recreationally as a vasodilator, causing lightheadedness and a euphoric feeling.

★ L-Arginine

★ Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) - a weak vasodilator.

★ Bradykinin

★ Ethanol

★ Endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor (EDHF)

★ Histamine

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★ Complement proteins C3a, C4a and C5a work by triggering histamine release from mast cells and basophil granulocytes.

★ Niacin (nicotinic acid)

★ Nitric oxide

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★ Glyceryl trinitrate (commonly known as Nitroglycerin)

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★ Isosorbide mononitrate & Isosorbide dinitrate

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★ Pentaerythritol Tetranitrate (PETN)

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★ Sodium nitroprusside

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★ PDE5 inhibitors: these agents indirectly increase the effects of nitric oxide

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★ Sildenafil

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★ Tadalafil

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★ Vardenafil

★ Platelet activating factor (PAF)

★ Prostacyclin (PGI₂) as well as other prostaglandins.

★ Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) - the major active chemical in marijuana. Its mild vasodilating effects redden the eyes of cannabis smokers.

★ Theobromine.

★ Papaverine an alkaloid found in the opium poppy papaver somniferum