Adrenergic

Not to be confused with Androgenic.

Adrenergic means "working on adrenaline (epinephrine) or noradrenaline (norepinephrine)"[1][2] (or on their receptors). When not further qualified, it is usually used in the sense of enhancing or mimicking the effects of epinephrine and norepinephrine in the body.


Regarding proteins:

  • Adrenergic receptor, a receptor type for epinephrine and norepinephrine; subtypes include α1, α2, β1, β2, and β3 receptors
  • Adrenergic transporter (norepinephrine transporter), a protein transporting norepinephrine from the synaptic cleft into nerve cells


Regarding pharmaceutical drugs:

  • Adrenergic receptor agonist, a type of drug activating one or more subtypes of adrenergic receptors
    • This includes drugs regulating blood pressure and antiasthmatic drugs.
  • Adrenergic receptor antagonist, a type of drug blocking one or more subtypes of adrenergic receptors
    • This mainly includes drugs lowering blood pressure.
  • Adrenergic reuptake inhibitor, a type of drug blocking the norepinephrine transporter
    • This includes antidepressants and drugs against ADHD.
  1. ^ Brunton, Laurence; Lazo, John S.; Parker, Keith (2006). Goodman & Gilman's The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics (11 ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill. ISBN 0-07-142280-3.
  2. ^ Thomas L. Lemke; David A. Williams, eds. (2007). Foye's Principles of Medicinal Chemistry (6 ed.). Baltimore: Lippincott Willams & Wilkins. ISBN 978-0-7817-6879-5.[permanent dead link]
  3. ^ "The Physiology and Function of the Alpha-Adrenergic Nervous System". Medspace. Retrieved 10 December 2015.