Peripheral vasodilators

What are Peripheral vasodilators?

Peripheral vasodilators are agents which act on the most distal parts of the vascular system i.e. the arterioles and venules. They dilate these distal blood vessels and lower the blood pressure, therefore makes it easier for the heart to pump blood through these peripheral blood vessels (and therefore whole the body).

Peripheral vasodilators are used in the treatment of hypertension, acute myocardial infarction and heart failure.

Peripheral vasodilators are medicines that are used to treat conditions that affect blood vessels in outer (peripheral) parts of the body such as the arms and legs. For example, they are used to treat peripheral arterial disease and Raynaud’s phenomenon.

Vasodilators are medicines that open, also called dilate, blood vessels. Vasodilators affect the muscles in the walls of the arteries and veins. They prevent the muscles from tightening and the walls from narrowing. As a result, blood flows more easily through the vessels.

Vasodilation is the widening of blood vessels due to the relaxation of the blood vessel’s muscular walls. It is a mechanism to enhance blood flow to areas of the body lacking oxygen or nutrients.

A list of common vasodilators includes:

ACE inhibitors such as benazepril (Lotensin®) or lisinopril (Prinivil®, Zestril®).
ARBs such as losartan (Cozaar®).
CCBs such as diltiazem (Cardizem®, Tiazac®).
Other direct vasodilators such as hydralazine (Apresoline®), minoxidil (Loniten®) or nitroglycerin (Nitrostat®).