Cardiac stimulant

Cardiac stimulants are a class of pharmacological agents that increase the output force of the heart and its rate of contractions by acting on the electrical conductivity of the heart, the cells of the heart or the overall health of the heart.

Mechanism of Action

Cardiac stimulants work by increasing the strength of the heart's contractions and the heart rate. This is achieved by enhancing the influx of calcium ions into the cardiomyocytes during the plateau phase of the action potential. The increased calcium influx results in more forceful contractions and a faster heart rate.

Types of Cardiac Stimulants

There are several types of cardiac stimulants, including:

• Digitalis: This is a type of cardiac stimulant derived from the foxglove plant. It works by inhibiting the sodium-potassium ATPase pump, which increases intracellular calcium levels and strengthens the force of heart contractions.

• Dopamine: This is a neurotransmitter that, when used as a cardiac stimulant, acts on beta-1 adrenergic receptors in the heart to increase heart rate and contractility.

• Dobutamine: This is a synthetic drug that acts on beta-1 adrenergic receptors in the heart to increase heart rate and contractility.

Uses

Cardiac stimulants are used in the treatment of various heart conditions, including heart failure, cardiogenic shock, and certain types of arrhythmia. They are also used during cardiac stress testing to increase the heart rate and force of contractions.

Side Effects

Like all medications, cardiac stimulants can have side effects. These may include arrhythmia, hypertension, angina, and in severe cases, cardiac arrest.

Glossary of cardiac stimulants and antihypotensives

• Adrenaline – A hormone and medication also known as epinephrine, used in cardiac arrest and anaphylaxis.
• Alifedrine – A beta-adrenergic agonist with cardiac stimulant effects.
• Amrinone – A phosphodiesterase 3 inhibitor used for short-term treatment of heart failure.
• Angiotensinamide – A synthetic form of angiotensin II, used to raise blood pressure.
• Antihypotensive – A class of drugs that treat or prevent low blood pressure.
• Arbutamine – A beta-adrenergic agonist used in cardiac stress testing.
• Bufalin – A cardiac glycoside derived from toad venom with cardiotonic properties.
• Butopamine – A beta-adrenergic agonist used as a cardiac stimulant.
• Cafedrine – A combination of norephedrine and theophylline, used for hypotension.
• Template:Cardiac glycosides – A family of compounds that increase the force of heart contractions.
• Template:Cardiac stimulants excluding cardiac glycosides – A group of non-glycoside cardiac stimulants.
• Cliropamine – A lesser-known sympathomimetic agent.
• Cocaine – A stimulant that increases norepinephrine and dopamine levels; also used in local anesthesia.
• Desglymidodrine – An active metabolite of midodrine, used to treat orthostatic hypotension.
• Dimetofrine – A sympathomimetic drug used as a cardiac stimulant.
• Dopexamine – A synthetic analogue of dopamine with inotropic and vasodilatory effects.
• Droxidopa – A prodrug of norepinephrine used in neurogenic orthostatic hypotension.
• Enoximone – A PDE3 inhibitor with positive inotropic effects.
• Ephedrine – A sympathomimetic amine used to prevent low blood pressure and as a stimulant.
• Epinephrine (medication) – Another name for adrenaline; used in many emergency settings.
• Etilefrine – A sympathomimetic agent used for treating hypotension.
• Meta-Hydroxynorephedrine – An active metabolite of amphetamines with stimulant properties.
• Isoprenaline – A non-selective beta-adrenergic agonist used to treat bradycardia and heart block.
• Mephentermine – A vasopressor and cardiac stimulant.
• Metaraminol – A vasopressor used to treat hypotension.
• Methamphetamine – A potent CNS stimulant; has cardiovascular stimulant effects.
• Midodrine – A prodrug that constricts blood vessels and raises blood pressure.
• Norepinephrine (medication) – A vasopressor used in critical care for shock and hypotension.
• Norfenefrine – A sympathomimetic drug related to norepinephrine.
• Oxilofrine – A stimulant and vasopressor agent.
• Oxyfedrine – A vasodilator with beta-adrenergic stimulant effects.
• Phenylephrine – A selective alpha-1 adrenergic receptor agonist used as a decongestant and to raise BP.
• Prenalterol – A beta-1 selective adrenergic agonist used in heart failure.
• Pseudoephedrine – A sympathomimetic drug used as a nasal decongestant.
• Racephedrine – One of the enantiomers of ephedrine, with stimulant effects.
• Racepinefrine – A racemic mixture of epinephrine used in respiratory conditions.
• Theodrenaline – A combination of theophylline and noradrenaline, used in circulatory shock.
• Theophylline/ephedrine – A combination used in asthma and COPD, with stimulant properties.
• Xamoterol – A partial beta-1 adrenergic agonist with inotropic effects.

See Also

• Cardiology
• Pharmacology
• Heart failure
• Arrhythmia

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