RESERPINE HYDROCHLORIDE

Reserpine hydrochloride is an indole antipsychotic, & antihypertensive drug that has been used for the control of high blood pressure & for the relief of psychotic symptoms although because of the development of better drugs for these purposes & because of its numerous side- effects, it is rarely used today. The antihypertensive actions of reserpine are a result of its ability to deplete catechola- mines (among other monoamine neurotransmitters) from peripheral sympathetic nerve endings. These substances are normally involved in controlling heart rate, force of cardiac contraction and peripheral vascular resistance. Moreover, reserpine has a peripheral action in many parts of the body, resulting in a preponderance of the effects of thecholinergic part of the autonomous nervous system on the gi tract, smooth muscles, blood vessels, etc.