indication

For the treatment of hypertension.

pharmacology

Deserpidine, an alkaloid of Rauwolfia canescens, is used as an antihypertensive. Rauwolfia alkaloids work by controlling nerve impulses along certain nerve pathways. As a result, they act on the heart and blood vessels to lower blood pressure.

mechanism of action

Deserpidine's mechanism of action is through inhibition of the ATP/Mg²⁺ pump responsible for the sequestering of neurotransmitters into storage vesicles located in the presynaptic neuron. The neurotransmitters that are not sequestered in the storage vesicle are readily metabolized by monoamine oxidase (MAO) causing a reduction in catecholamines.

toxicity

Symptoms of overdose include dizziness or drowsiness (severe), flushing of skin, pinpoint pupils of eyes and slowed pulse.

drug interactions

Epinephrine: Increased arterial pressure

Fenoterol: Increased arterial pressure

Orciprenaline: Increased arterial pressure

Phenylephrine: Increased arterial pressure

Phenylpropanolamine: Increased arterial pressure

Pseudoephedrine: Increased arterial pressure

Terbutaline: Increased arterial pressure