Pharmacology of Ganglion-Acting Drugs

Ganglion-Stimulating Drugs

• Nicotine, DMPP, and other compounds stimulate both sympathetic and parasympathetic ganglia, leading to complex physiological effects.
• These effects include tachycardia (increased heart rate), increased blood pressure, variable effects on gastrointestinal motility and secretions, and increased bronchial, salivary, and sweat secretions.
• The only therapeutic use for ganglion-stimulating drugs is Nicotine, which can be used to assist in smoking cessation.

Ganglion-Blocking Drugs

• Hexamethonium and Trimetaphan are examples of ganglion-blocking drugs that block all autonomic ganglia, including the enteric ganglia.
• Blocking autonomic ganglia leads to:
  • Hypotension (low blood pressure) and loss of cardiovascular reflexes.
  • Inhibition of secretions.
  • Gastrointestinal paralysis.
  • Impaired micturition (difficulty urinating).
• Ganglion-blocking drugs are rarely used clinically, except for Trimetaphan, which is used occasionally to produce controlled hypotension during anesthesia.