Article Plan⁚ Nimodipine Drug Class and Pharmacological Profile
INTRODUCTION⁚ Enteral nimodipine provides a neuroprotective effect in patients who have experienced an aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH). Nimodipine remains the only US Food and Drug Administration-approved medication for aSAH.
Introduction
INTRODUCTION⁚ Enteral nimodipine provides a neuroprotective effect in patients who have experienced an aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH). Nimodipine remains the only US Food and Drug Administration-approved medication for aSAH.
Chemical Structure and Class
Nimodipine is a dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker with a chemical structure of isopropyl 2-methoxyethyl 1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-4-(m-nitrophenyl)-3,5-pyridinedicarboxylate. It belongs to the class of 1,4-dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers. This compound acts as an L-type calcium channel blocker, particularly on cerebral circulation, and is used for the prevention...
Pharmacology
Nimodipine is a dihydropyridine calcium antagonist that blocks the flux of extracellular calcium through L-type, voltage-gated calcium channels. It has been shown to dilate cerebral arterioles and increase cerebral blood flow in both animals and humans. The pharmacology of nimodipine involves inhibiting calcium ion transfer into smooth muscle cells, particularly in cerebral circulation, without significantly affecting systemic arterial pressure. This medication has been used to prevent brain damage resulting from reduced blood flow in cases of aneurysms.
FDA Approval and Clinical Use
Nimodipine, a second-generation 1٫4-dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker٫ was FDA approved in 1988 for the management of cerebral vasospasm following subarachnoid hemorrhage. This medication has shown effectiveness in improving neurological outcomes in patients with a ruptured intracranial aneurysm. It is recommended as a neuroprotective agent in such cases and has been extensively used for this purpose since its approval.
Research and Trials
Various pharmacological and clinical studies have been conducted with nimodipine in the past decade, with its pharmacology being extensively reviewed. Experimental and clinical findings of nimodipine have been the subject of workshops and symposia, highlighting the significance of ongoing research in this field. These studies aim to further explore the efficacy and safety profile of nimodipine in various neurological conditions, making it a focus of continued investigation and development.