3-Hydroxy-alpha-((methylamino)-methyl)benzolmethanol, (R)-

BeschreibungThis synthetic drug has both chemical and pharmacological similarities to norepinephrine. A characteristic quality of phenylephrine is the distinctly expressed selectivity to α- adrenoreceptors, especially α1-adrenoreceptors. Although phenylephrine increases the contractibility of blood vessels, in practical terms it is not considered a cardiostimulant.

HistoryPhenylephrine was first patented in 1927 and was first introduced for medical use in 1938. It is available as a generic medication. Unlike pseudoephedrine, abuse of phenylephrine is very uncommon. Its effectiveness as an oral nasal decongestant has been questioned. In 2023, a U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) panel concluded that the drug was ineffective as a nasal decongestant when taken orally, performing no better than placebo. In November 2024, FDA announced it is proposing to remove oral phenylephrine as an active ingredient that can be used in over-the-counter (OTC) monograph drug products for the temporary relief of nasal congestion after an agency review of the available data determined that oral phenylephrine is not effective for this use.

VerwendenL-Phenylephrine is an adrenergic α1A receptor agonist (Ki = 1.4 μM) that demonstrates selectivity against the α1B and α1C receptor subtypes (Kis = 23.9 and 47.8 μM, respectively). By stimulating adrenergic α1 receptors, L-phenylephrine can induce aortic smooth muscle contractions, although reported relative affinity and potency values in rabbit are 5-fold weaker compared to that of L-norepinephrine. This compound is frequently used to precontract smooth muscle in preparations designed to study the properties of various vasodilator agents. Because L-phenylephrine acts on adrenergic α1 receptors in the arterioles of the nasal mucosa to produce constriction, it has been examined clinically as an oral decongestant.