An Experimental Overview of a New Vasoactive Drug: Buflomedil HCl

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Abstract
A brief review of the pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, and metabolism of buf lomedil-HCl is presented providing a phar macologic basis for buflomedil therapy of ischemia associated with peripheral vascu lar disease. Buflomedil is readily absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract and has a plasma half-life of approximately 2-3 hours. The para-desmethyl derivative of buflo medil has been identified as a urinary me tabolite. Pharmacologically, buflomedil in creases perfusion to impaired vascular beds of the microcirculation, increases arterial perfusion with minimal effects on central hemodynamics, exhibits apparent oxygen "sparing" effects in animal experiments, demonstrates inhibitory effects on platelet aggregation, and, in preliminary experi ments, appears to improve deformability of erythrocytes with abnormal fluidity. A non specific α-receptor blocking activity ap pears to be involved, at least in part, in these pharmacologic effects. The relative importance of these mechanisms/effects in the treatment of symptoms of vascular dis ease is unknown.