Reserpin
Reserpin Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Mechanism of Action, How Long Does it Take to Work? Reserpin is a brand name. Its generic name is Reserpine.
Introduction
Reserpin, also known as isolation or resiniferatoxin, is an individual alkaloid taken from two species of plants used in traditional Indian Ayurvedic medicine, Rauwolfia serpentina and R. Vomitoria. It has been used in the treatment of hypertension and mental disorders.
Uses
Reserpin is primarily used in the treatment of hypertension in combination with other drugs. It is also used to treat mental health issues such as psychosis and depression, as well as certain types of digestive problems.
Mechanism of Action
Reserpin works by inhibiting the storage of catecholamines in synapses. This action reduces the amount of monoamines available for synaptic transmission and thereby, decreases CNS stimulation. This leads to relaxation of the vascular smooth muscle and subsequently, a decrease in blood pressure.
How Long Does it Take to Work?
The effectiveness of reserpine is usually seen within 2-4 weeks. The drug has to be taken over an extended period of time to maintain its effectiveness.
Absorption
Reserpin is rapidly and completely absorbed from the digestive tract. Its peak plasma concentration are achieved within 1-1.5 hours of oral administration.
Route of Elimination
Reserpin is mainly eliminated in the form of metabolites in the urine, with a small portion excreted in the bile and feces.
Dosage
The dosage recommendations vary among patients depending on individual factors such as age, gender, medical condition and other medications being taken. The usually dose for adults is 0.25-0.5mg once a day, increasing to a maximum of 1.5-2mg per day in divided doses; for children, the usually dose is 0.125mg per day in divided doses.
Administration
Reserpin is available in tablet form and is usually taken orally, with or without food, at regular intervals.
Side Effects
The most common side effects of reserpine include nausea, dizziness, dry mouth, drowsiness, stomach cramps, constipation, and headache. Other serious side effects can include depression, suicidal thoughts, confusion, low blood pressure, and congestive heart failure.
Toxicity
Reserpin is known to have a wide safety margin, but some cases of overdose have been reported. Overdose symptoms include drowsiness, fatigue, confusion, and low blood pressure.
Precaution
Patients who are taking reserpine should not abruptly stop taking it; instead, the medication should be tapered gradually to avoid withdrawal symptoms such as anxiety, agitation, palpitations, and abnormal behavior.
Interaction
Reserpin should not be used with barbiturates, tranquilizers, and other oral hypertension drugs as this can cause serious side effects. Additionally, patients should inform their doctor before using any herbal supplements, dietary supplements, or over the counter medications.
Disease Interaction
Reserpin should not be taken by patients with congestive heart failure, severe cardiac or renal impairment, recent myocardial infarction, or certain metabolic disorders. Additionally, reserpine should not be used by pregnant or lactating women.
Drug Interaction
Reserpin should not be taken along with some other drugs such as barbiturate tranquilizers, phenothiazines, other oral hypertension drugs, or monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs). It also interacts with some herbal supplements such as St. John’s Wort.
Food Interactions
It should be avoided in patients who are on MAOIs, as combinations with certain dietary components can lead to severe hypertensive reactions. Eating grapefruit or drinking grapefruit juice while taking reserpine may increase its levels in the blood.
Pregnancy Use
Reserpin should not be used in pregnant women due to possible risk to the unborn baby.
Lactation Use
Reserpin should not be used in women who are breastfeeding as it might pass into breast milk and affect the infant.
Acute Overdose
The symptoms of an acute overdose include nausea, vomiting, dizziness, confusion, drowsiness, hypotension, bradycardia, and coma. In case of overdose, the patient should be immediately taken to an emergency room or poison control center.
Contraindication
Reserpin should not be used by patients with severe cardiac or renal impairment, recent myocardial infarction, certain metabolic disorders, or by pregnant or lactating women.
Use Direction
Reserpin should be administered exactly as prescribed by the doctor and should not be taken in larger or smaller amounts or for a longer period of time than recommended. It should also be taken with or without food, at regular intervals.
Storage Condition
Reserpin should be stored at room temperature, away from moisture, light, and heat. It should be kept in its original container and stored away from children.
Volume of Distribution
Reserpin is distributed widely throughout the body and its estimated volume of distribution is 224 L/kg.
Half Life
The estimated half-life of reserpine is 18-20 hours.
Clearance
Reserpin is cleared from the body mainly by kidney, its estimated clearance is 2-6 mL/min/kg.
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