View source for Vasoconstrictor agent

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In [[medicine]] and [[pharmacology]], '''vasoconstrictor agents''' or '''vasopressor agents''' are "drugs used to cause constriction of the blood vessels."<ref>{{MeSH}}</ref>

Examples of [[sympathomimetic]] vasoconstrictor agents include:
{{r|Epinephrine}} 
{{r|Norepinephrine}}

Examples of [[peptide]]  hormone vasoconstrictor agents  include:
{{r|Vasopressin}} 

==Uses==
===Septic shock===
Among the choices for pressors for treating [[septic shock]], a [[randomized  controlled trial]]  concluded that there was no difference between the biogenic [[amine]]s [[norepinephrine]] (plus [[dobutamine]] as needed for [[cardiac output]]) versus [[epinephrine]].<ref  name="pmid17720019">{{cite journal |author=Annane D, Vignon P, Renault A, ''et al'' |title=Norepinephrine plus dobutamine versus  epinephrine alone for management of septic shock: a randomised trial  |journal=Lancet  |volume=370  |issue=9588  |pages=676-84  |year=2007  |pmid=17720019  |doi=10.1016/S0140-6736(07)61344-0}}</ref> Similarly, another [[randomized  controlled trial]] found  no difference between [[vasopressin]] and [[norepinephrine]].<ref>Russell,  J. A., Walley, K. R., Singer, J., Gordon, A. C., Hebert, P. C., Cooper,  D. J., et al. (2008). [http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/short/358/9/877 Vasopressin versus  norepinephrine infusion in patients with septic shock], N Engl J Med, 358(9), 877-887. {{doi|10.1056/NEJMoa067373}}</ref> Another trial found no difference between [[norepinephrine]] and [[dopamine]] are similar in reducing  mortality.<ref>NEJM   2010 [http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/full/362/9/779 Comparison of Dopamine  and Norepinephrine in the Treatment of Shock]</ref>

===Cardiogenic shock===
Among the choices for pressors for treating [[cardiogenic shock]], [[norepinephrine]] may be better than [[dopamine]] in reducing mortality. <ref>NEJM 2010 [http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/full/362/9/779 Comparison of Dopamine and Norepinephrine in the Treatment of Shock]</ref>

===Hypovolemic shock===
Among the choices for  pressors for treating [[hypovolemic shock]], [[norepinephrine]] and [[dopamine]] are similar in reducing mortality.<ref>NEJM  2010 [http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/full/362/9/779 Comparison of Dopamine  and Norepinephrine in the Treatment of Shock]</ref>

==References==
<references/>