EFFECT OF PAREDRINOL (α-N-DIMETHYL-p-HYDROXYPHENETHYLAMINE) ON SODIUM NITRITE COLLAPSE AND ON CLINICAL SHOCK

Open Access
Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
From theoretical considerations paredrinol should be effective in preventing NaNO2 collapse induced in the upright position because paredrinol increases the venous tone without at the same time increasing the metabolism of the tissues or causing marked arteriolar constriction. In 4 normal subjects the intramusc. inj. of 25 mg. of paredrinol prevented the collapse induced in the upright position by NaNO2. In 3 others it had no effect. In 2 subjects with severe postural hypotension, symptoms of cerebral anoxia were prevented by the use of paredrinol. In 7 of the 10 cases in severe clinical shock resulting from infectious disease, the intramusc. or intraven. inj. of 15-50 mg. of paredrinol caused a rise in arterial pressure. Only 2 of these cases showed definite clinical improvement. In 1 patient paredrinol was effective both in the collapse induced by an acute streptococcal pharyngitis and in the collapse subsequently induced by motionless standing. The responses of the patients in severe clinical collapse differed from those in the normal subject as follows: From 2 to 4 times the amt. of paredrinol was required to cause a significant elevation of blood pressure, and even then the arterial pressure rarely increased to hypertensive levels; the heart rate was usually increased instead of decreased; repeated doses of the drug, when given after the blood pressure had returned to normal, failed to be as effective as the original inj. Paredrinol is a useful drug in the treatment of collapse caused by the pooling of blood within a dilated venous system but in shock resulting primarily from loss of fluid from the blood stream the drug may not be helpful, or it may even be harmful.