The document discusses sympathomimetics, also known as adrenergic agonists, which mimic the actions of the sympathetic nervous system and can be classified into directly, indirectly, and mixed-acting drugs. It details the functions of adrenergic neurotransmitters, their receptors, and the mechanisms of various drugs such as epinephrine and phenylephrine in treating conditions like asthma and hypertension. Additionally, it covers the synthesis processes of key drugs like phenylephrine and salbutamol, along with their structural activity relationships.

1. SYMPATHOMIMETICS
BY
RAAJITA.I

2. ★ Introduction
★ Nervous system
★ Adrenergic receptors
★ Adrenergic neurotransmitters
★ Classification of drugs
★ SAR of adrenergic agonists
★ Synthesis of phenylephrine
★ Synthesis of salbutamol
About

3. INTRODUCTION
● Sympathomimetics are also known as adrenomimetics or adrenergic
agonists.
● Drugs that mimic the action of sympathetic system are called
sympathomimetics.
● Sympathomimetics can be grouped by their mode of action and by the
spectrum of receptors.
● Some of the drugs act by direct mode, that is they interact and activate the
adrenoreceptors.
● Others act indirectly i.e, their actions are dependent on the release of
endogenous catecholamines.

4. ● These indirectly acting agents have 2 different mode of actions:
1. Displacement of stored catecholamines from adrenergic
nerve endings
2. By inhibition of reuptake of catecholamines already released

5. NERVOUS SYSTEM
Nervous system
Peripheral NS
Central NS
Brain Spinal cord Somatic NS Autonomic NS

6. ● Autonomic nervous system involves Sympathetic & Parasympathetic
systems.
● Sympathetic NS is responsible for Fight / Flight responses while
Parasympathetic NS shows Maintenance of response.
● Sympathetic system involves neurotransmitters which are chemically
Catecholamines and named as follows:
Dopamine Shows pleasure & addiction
Epinephrine Increases heart rate
Norepinephrine Causes vasoconstriction

7. ADRENERGIC RECEPTORS: (GPCR TYPE)
𝛼 - receptors
● 𝛼1- receptors: present at
postsynaptic receptor sites to
show increased excitatory action
● 𝛼2 - receptors: present at pre &
postsynaptic receptor sites and
shows inhibitory action
Ꞵ - receptors
● 𝛃1- receptors: present at cardiac
tissue and shows excitatory
action (↑ blood pressure)
● 𝛃2- receptors: present at smooth
muscles & gland cells to show
inhibitory action (relaxation)
● 𝛃3- receptors: present in adipose
tissue and urinary bladder that
leads to lipolysis & relaxation
respectively

8. ADRENERGIC NEUROTRANSMITTERS
DOPAMINE ADRENALINE NORADRENALINE

9. Synthesis, release & fate of neurotransmitters
● The dopamine is synthesised from phenylamine in the presence of DOPA
decarboxylase which gives noradrenaline and adrenaline in the presence of
β- hydroxylase and N- methyl transference respectively.
● It is stored in chromaffin granules along with ATP & chromogranin-A that
diffuses into cytosol.
● Entry of calcium into presynaptic nerve terminal that undergoes
depolarisation and causes exocytosis of noradrenaline and adrenaline into
synaptic cleft.
● When the neurotransmitter binds to ∝1 receptor increase in activity is
observed and vice versa in case of ∝2 receptor (known as feedback
mechanism)

10. ● The adrenergic neurotransmitters are metabolised in the presence of
Monoamine Oxidase (MAO)
Catechol O-Methyltransferase (COMT)
● MAO gives end product named as ‘3,4- dihydroxy phenyl glycolaldehyde’.
● COMT gives end product named as ‘4- hydroxy-3- methyl phenyl
glycolaldehyde’.

11. CLASSIFICATION OF SYMPATHOMIMETIC
DRUGS:

12. Directly acting drugs:
Norepinephrine Epinephrine Phenylephrine Dopamine

13. Methyldopa Clonidine Dobutamine
Isoproterenol Terbutaline Salbutamol

14. DRUG MECHANISM OF
ACTION
PHARMACOLOGICAL
ACTION
Norepinephrine Binds with ∝ & β1
receptors
Vasoconstriction, ↑ BP &
heart rate
Epinephrine It is a pivalic acid prodrug
that binds to ∝, β1 & β2
receptors
Vasoconstriction,↑ BP &
heart rate &
bronchodilation to treat
Asthma, to treat
anaphylaxis
Phenylephrine Binds with ∝1 receptor Vasoconstriction,
contraction of uterus &
mydriatic agent and treats
open angle glaucoma
Dopamine Binds indirectly with ∝ &
directly with β
Treats septic shock,
congestive heart failure &
trauma

15. Methyldopa Converted to ∝-methyl
norepinephrine and binds
to ∝1 receptors
Antihypertensive
Clonidine Binds to ∝2 receptors Antihypertensive, mild
sedative, also used to
treat glaucoma,
migraine,prophylaxis &
opiate withdrawal
syndrome
Dobutamine Binds to ∝1 & β1 receptors Treats congestive heart
failure
Isoproterenol Binds to β1 & β2 receptors Increases cardiac output
& treats asthma
respectively
Terbutaline Binds to β2 receptors Treats asthma

16. Salbutamol Binds to β2 receptors Treats asthma & causes
uterus relaxation
Bitolterol It is a colterol prodrug that
binds to β2 receptors
Causes bronchodilation to
treat asthma
❏ Bitolterol is a prodrug of salbutamol, which has more affinity
towards β2 receptors than ∝ receptors due to increased
bulkiness on amine group(contains 30-butyl group).
Bitolterol

17. Indirectly acting drugs
Drugs Mechanism of action Pharmacological
action
Hydroxy amphetamine Causes release of
noradrenaline
Dilation of pupil,
diagnostic agent in
testing HORNER’s
SYNDROME
Pseudoephedrine Binds to ∝ & β receptors Vasoconstriction &
↑cardiac output
Propylhexane Binds to ∝ receptors in
respiratory tract
Nasal decongestant

18. Mixed action drugs
Drugs Mechanism of action Pharmacological
action
Ephedrine Binds to ∝ & β receptors Treats hay fever &
urticaria and used as
nasal decongestant
Metaraminol Binds to ∝ & β receptors Causes hypotension

19. SAR of adrenergic agonists
General structure:
● It contains a catechol ring, β- carbon with hydroxyl group(-OH) and a ∝-
carbon containing an amine group(-NH2).

20. ❖ Catechol ring:
● It is responsible for maximum activity and potency of ∝ & β receptors
Ex: Phenylephrine (low potency), Epinephrine (high potency)
● Absence of hydroxyl group (-OH) increases CNS activity and Blood Brain Barrier
crossing ability of drug
Ex: Amphetamine
❖ β - carbon:
● Hydroxyl group decreases the CNS activity and increases the ∝ & β activity of the
drug
Ex: Ephedrine
❖ ∝ - carbon:
● If substituted, then decrease in activity and longer duration of action is observed
Ex: Amphetamine
❖ Amine group:
● Primary and secondary amines show high selectivity
Ex: Adrenaline
● Alkyl substitution increases the size of compound that shows high selectivity
towards β receptors
Ex: Isoprenaline, Salbutamol

21. SYNTHESIS OF PHENYLEPHRINE:
NH2-CH3
--HCl
Chloroacetyl phenol H2/Ni
Phenylephrine

22. SYNTHESIS OF SALBUTAMOL:
∝- hydroxy
benzyl
alcohol
Chloroacetyl
chloride
– HCl
NH2–
C(CH3)3
–HCl
MPV
Reduction
Salbutamol

23. THANK
YOU