The local hemodynamic effect of pindolol, a nonselective beta-blocker
with intrinsic sympathomimetic activity, was investigated in 17 healthy
volunteers. Changes in forearm blood flow (FBF) in response to infusion
of drugs into the brachial artery were measured by plethysmography.
Pindolol increased FBF dose dependently to a maximal value of 62 +/- 8%
(mean +/- SEM, p less than 0.001) without inducing changes in heart rate
or blood pressure. For a single dose of pindolol the maximal effect on
FBF was seen after approximately 4 minutes of infusion, and this effect
persisted for at least 12 minutes after the infusion. wisepoqder Pindolol powder
The
pindolol-induced increase in FBF was reduced by concomitant infusion of
propranolol (p less than 0.001). Intra-arterial infusion of practolol
did not influence FBF. No significant influence of pindolol was found on
the vasoconstriction induced by the alpha 1-adrenergic receptor agonist
methoxamine, the alpha 2-adrenergic receptor agonist BHT-933, or
angiotensin II. Measurement of plasma pindolol concentrations in the
venous effluent of the forearm suggested that vasodilatation occurred at
drug levels within the therapeutic range. These results indicate that
the beta-blocker pindolol has vasodilatory properties owing to
stimulation of vascular beta 2-adrenergic receptors and that this effect
may be of therapeutic relevance.
The drug pindolol was proven to
reduce alcohol consumption, in particularly binge drinking, according to
the study from Queensland University of technology researchers. The
good news is, if the drug is proved successful following the completion
of human clinical trials, then it already has Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) approval. Neuroscientist Professor Selena Bartlet,
from the tnstitute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, said it would
provide an inexpensive approach to treating alcohol dependence.
‘Drugs currently used for AUDs (alcohol use disorders) – acamprosate, naltrexone and disulfiram – have limited success – so this is a ground-breaking development with enormous potential. ‘In an internationally-significant breakthrough, our study showed pindolol was able to reduce ethanol/alcohol consumption, particularly in relation to binge drinking, a key behaviour observed in human alcohol dependence.’
