Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: UMLS:C0015672 (fatigue)
 51,768 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Although essential hypertension is usually defined as a hemodynamic disorder, it is expressed differently among individuals and varies during progression of the disease state. Therefore, various types of treatment can be envisioned. The use of selective I1-imidazoline-receptor agonists to modulate I1-imidazoline receptors involved in the central regulation of blood pressure has led to the introduction of a novel class of centrally acting antihypertensive drugs. Moxonidine, a representative molecule of this class, dissociates between a 10% alpha 2-adrenoceptor-agonist action linked with side effects such as fatigue or dry mouth, and a 90% specific antihypertensive action resulting from its selective agonistic action at I1-imidazoline receptors. Clinical experience is based on more than 2,000 patients and volunteers, and long-term efficacy has been demonstrated in about 500 patients who received a daily dose of moxonidine 0.2-0.4 mg. Moxonidine produces a pronounced reduction in peripheral vascular resistance without reflex tachycardia, accompanied by reduced plasma norepinephrine concentration and plasma-renin activity. Cardiovascular responses to exercise and standing remain nearly normal, and serious or life-threatening side effects, particularly the sympathetic overactivity that can occur on sudden withdrawal of other centrally acting agents, are never observed. In addition, moxonidine behaves neutrally with respect to plasma levels of cholesterol, potassium and glucose, glucose and lipid metabolism, and renal function, and can be administered without complication to patients with asthma or certain other diseases. Studies with magnetic resonance imaging have shown that moxonidine significantly reduces left ventricular mass, an indicator of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), within a 6-month treatment period, an effect that coincided with decreased plasma concentrations of catecholamines and renin. Comparisons between moxonidine and other well-established antihypertensive drugs such as nifedipine, atenolol, or angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors showed equal effectiveness in lowering blood pressure, whereas the adverse events profile always favored moxonidine. Considering its efficacy, safety, and specific effects (e.g., its ability to reduce LVH), moxonidine meets the criteria satisfied by other currently prescribed antihypertensive drugs. Because of its especially favorable benefit-to-risk ratio, moxonidine should be recommended as first-line treatment of hypertension and may also be useful in treating related problems such as LVH, coronary artery disease, and ventricular premature beats.
 ...
PMID:I1-imidazoline-receptor agonists in the treatment of hypertension: an appraisal of clinical experience. 753 26

Moxonidine is an imidazoline receptor modulator, specific for the I1-imidazoline receptor. The stimulation of imidazoline receptors represents a new mode of antihypertensive action to inhibit peripheral alpha-adrenergic tone by a central mechanism. Acute hemodynamic studies reveal moxonidine produces an acute fall of blood pressure and systemic vascular resistance. Heart rate, cardiac output, stroke volume, and pulmonary artery pressures are not affected. Left ventricular end-systolic and diastolic volumes are reduced. Ejection fraction is not significantly affected but 6-month studies showed a regression of left ventricular hypertrophy. After oral administration the maximum concentration of moxonidine is reached in about 1 hour, and elimination half-life is 2.5 hours, prolonged by renal insufficiency. The antihypertensive effect lasts longer than would be expected from the half-life. Open studies with moxonidine have revealed falls between 20 and 29 mmHg systolic, and between 10 and 19 mmHg diastolic blood pressure. In the largest study, over 12 months in 141 patients, most patients were controlled by 0.2 mg daily (58%) or 0.2 mg b.i.d. (38%). Moxonidine has been compared with representatives from each important class of antihypertensive drugs. In a crossover trial of clonidine in 20 patients, blood pressure control was similar, but the incidence of tiredness and dry mouth was less on moxonidine, as was the total number of patients experiencing side effects, 85% versus 30% (p < 0.01). In a larger parallel group study of moxonidine (n = 122) and clonidine (n = 30), blood pressure control was similar, but the overall incidence of side effects was less on moxonidine. In comparative studies of moxonidine with atenolol, ACE inhibitors, dihydropyridine calcium antagonists, hydrochlorothiazide, and alpha 1 blockade, the blood pressure control with representatives of these various classes of drugs was similar to moxonidine.
 ...
PMID:Clinical experience with moxonidine. 806 79