any of a class of drugs that prevent the stimulation of alpha adrenoceptors, a type of receptor in the sympathetic nervous system, by adrenaline and noradrenaline and that therefore cause widening of blood vessels: used in the treatment of high blood pressure and prostatic hyperplasia
alpha blocker in American English
any of a class of drugs used to dilate the blood vessels by blocking the nerve impulses that normally excite the alpha receptors
alpha-blocker in the Pharmaceutical Industry
(ælfə blɒkər)
Word forms: (regular plural) alpha-blockers
noun
(Pharmaceutical: Drugs)
An alpha-blocker is any one of a class of drugs that prevents the widening of blood vessels by preventingthe stimulation of alpha adrenoceptors, a type of receptor in the sympathetic nervoussystem, by adrenalin and noradrenalin. Alpha-blockers are used in the treatment of high blood pressure and prostatic hyperplasia (= enlargement of the prostate).
Alpha-blockers block the effects of adrenalin.
Alpha-blockers treat high blood pressure by blocking alpha receptors on blood vessels.
An alpha-blocker is any one of a class of drugs that prevents the widening of blood vessels by preventingthe stimulation of alpha adrenoceptors, a type of receptor in the sympathetic nervoussystem, by adrenalin and noradrenalin.