Federal government websites often end in. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you're on a federal government site. The site is secure. NCBI Bookshelf. Evan Richards ; Michael J. Lopez ; Christopher V. Authors Evan Richards 1 ; Michael J. Lopez 2 ; Christopher V. Maani 3. Phenylephrine primarily acts as an alpha-1 adrenergic receptor agonist and exhibits minimal to no beta-adrenergic activity.
Consequently, the medication is an optimal choice for raising mean arterial pressure by inducing vasoconstriction in both veins and arteries and enhancing cardiac preload without exerting significant effects on cardiac myocytes. The US Food and Drug Administration FDA has approved intravenous phenylephrine hydrochloride to elevate blood pressure in adults experiencing clinically significant hypotension, primarily attributed to vasodilation, in situations such as septic shock or anesthesia.
Phenylephrine HCL is also an over-the-counter OTC medication in ophthalmic formulations to facilitate mydriasis and vasoconstriction of conjunctival blood vessels. Furthermore, this medication is administered intranasally to treat uncomplicated nasal congestion and is an OTC additive to topical hemorrhoid medications.
This activity provides a comprehensive overview of the indications, mechanism of action, administration methods, adverse event profile, contraindications, monitoring, and toxicity of phenylephrine relevant to the interprofessional healthcare team to effectively guide patient therapy in the treatment of diverse conditions for which phenylephrine is indicated. Objectives: Identify the clinical uses of phenylephrine for the treatment of hypotension caused by vasodilation, such as in septic shock and anesthesia.
Assess patient responses to phenylephrine therapy and monitor hemodynamic parameters and adverse events to ensure optimal outcomes and early recognition of complications. Screen patients for contraindications and potential interactions with phenylephrine, particularly in hypersensitivity, bradycardia, severe cardiac dysfunction, and hypovolemia.
