A cerebral vasodilator is a

drug A drug is any chemical substance other than a nutrient or an essential dietary ingredient, which, when administered to a living organism, produces a biological effect. Consumption of drugs can be via insufflation (medicine), inhalation, drug i ...

which acts as a

vasodilator Vasodilation, also known as vasorelaxation, is the widening of blood vessels. It results from relaxation of smooth muscle cells within the vessel walls, in particular in the large veins, large arteries, and smaller arterioles. Blood vessel wal ...

in the

brain The brain is an organ (biology), organ that serves as the center of the nervous system in all vertebrate and most invertebrate animals. It consists of nervous tissue and is typically located in the head (cephalization), usually near organs for ...

. They are used to improve

blood flow Hemodynamics American and British English spelling differences#ae and oe, or haemodynamics are the Fluid dynamics, dynamics of blood flow. The circulatory system is controlled by homeostasis, homeostatic mechanisms of autoregulation, just as hydrau ...

in people with

cerebrovascular insufficiency Cerebrovascular disease includes a variety of Medicine, medical conditions that affect the blood vessels of the brain and the cerebral circulation. Arteries supplying oxygen and nutrients to the brain are often Angiopathy, damaged or deformed in ...

and to treat

neurological disorder Neurological disorders represent a complex array of medical conditions that fundamentally disrupt the functioning of the nervous system. These disorders affect the brain, spinal cord, and nerve networks, presenting unique diagnosis, treatment, and ...

s secondary to this condition. A number of different cerebral vasodilators exist. An example is

ifenprodil Ifenprodil, sold under the brand names Cerocral, Dilvax, and Vadilex, is a cerebral vasodilator that has been marketed in some countries, including in Japan, Hong Kong, and France. It is currently under development for treatment of a variety of ...

, which has been marketed for use as a cerebral vasodilator in

France France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...

Hong Kong Hong Kong)., Legally Hong Kong, China in international treaties and organizations. is a special administrative region of China. With 7.5 million residents in a territory, Hong Kong is the fourth most densely populated region in the wor ...

, and

Japan Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean off the northeast coast of the Asia, Asian mainland, it is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan and extends from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea ...

. Other examples include buphenine (nylidrin),

isoxsuprine Isoxsuprine (used as isoxsuprine hydrochloride) is a drug used as a vasodilator in humans (under the trade name Duvadilan) and equines. Isoxsuprine is a β2 adrenoreceptor agonist that causes direct relaxation of uterine and vascular smooth musc ...

oxyfedrine Oxyfedrine, sold under the brand names Ildamen and Myofedrin among others, is a sympathomimetic agent and coronary vasodilator which is used in the treatment of coronary heart disease, angina pectoris, and acute myocardial infarction. It is t ...

suloctidil Suloctidil was a sulfur-containing aminoalcohol that was brought to market in the early 1970s as a vasodilator by Continental Pharma, a Belgian company. Continental was bought by Monsanto in 1984, primarily on the promise of sales of suloctidil ...

, and tinofedrine. Similar drugs include

cerebral activator A cerebral activator, also known as a cerebral metabolic enhancer or activator, is a type of drug that "activates" the central nervous system in the context of cerebrovascular diseases such as stroke and dementia. The term has been used specifica ...

s, or cerebral metabolism activators, like

bifemelane Bifemelane (INN), sold under the brand names Alnert and Celeport, is an antidepressant and cerebral activator that was widely used in the treatment of cerebral infarction patients with depressive symptoms in Japan, and in the treatment of deme ...

indeloxazine Indeloxazine ( INN; trade names Elen and Noin) is an antidepressant and cerebral activator that was marketed in Japan and South Korea by Yamanouchi Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd for the treatment of psychiatric symptoms associated with cerebrovascul ...

, and teniloxazine, which are also used to treat

cerebrovascular disease Cerebrovascular disease includes a variety of medical conditions that affect the blood vessels of the brain and the cerebral circulation. Arteries supplying oxygen and nutrients to the brain are often damaged or deformed in these disorders. Th ...

References

{{Reflist Drugs acting on the cardiovascular system Drugs acting on the nervous system Neuroprotective agents Vasodilators Cerebral vasodilators

See also

References