Dimetofrine Explained

Dimetofrine, also known as dimethophrine or dimetophrine and sold under the brand names Dovida, Pressamina, and Superten, is a medication described as a sympathomimetic, vasoconstrictor, and cardiac stimulant.^{[1] [2] [3]} It is said to be similarly or less effective than midodrine in the treatment of orthostatic hypotension and shows substantially lower potency.^{[4] [5]}

The drug is a selective α₁-adrenergic receptor agonist^[6] but is also said to have β-adrenergic receptor agonist activity. It is a substituted phenethylamine and is also known as 3,5-dimethoxy-4,β-dihydroxy-N-methylphenethylamine. Its chemical structure is similar to that of desglymidodrine (3,6-dimethoxy-β-hydroxyphenethylamine), the active metabolite of midodrine.

Dimetofrine remained marketed only in Italy in 2000.

Notes and References

1. Book: Elks, J. . The Dictionary of Drugs: Chemical Data: Chemical Data, Structures and Bibliographies . Springer US . 2014 . 978-1-4757-2085-3 . 31 August 2024 . 443.
2. Book: Schweizerischer Apotheker-Verein . Index Nominum 2000: International Drug Directory . Medpharm Scientific Publishers . Index nominum . 2000 . 978-3-88763-075-1 . 31 August 2024 . 352.
3. Baldrighi V, Aiazzi L, Castelli C, Seveso G . Double-blind clinical evaluation of dimetophrine in chronically reduced arterial tension . Curr Med Res Opin . 9 . 2 . 78–85 . 1984 . 6399891 . 10.1185/03007998409109563.
4. McClellan KJ, Wiseman LR, Wilde MI . Midodrine. A review of its therapeutic use in the management of orthostatic hypotension . Drugs Aging . 12 . 1 . 76–86 . January 1998 . 9467688 . 10.2165/00002512-199812010-00007 .
5. McTavish D, Goa KL . Midodrine. A review of its pharmacological properties and therapeutic use in orthostatic hypotension and secondary hypotensive disorders . Drugs . 38 . 5 . 757–777 . November 1989 . 2480881 . 10.2165/00003495-198938050-00004 .
6. Marini U, Cecchi A, Venturini M . Controlled clinical investigation of dimetophrine versus midodrine in the management of moderately decreased arterial blood pressure . Curr Med Res Opin . 9 . 4 . 265–274 . 1984 . 6210180 . 10.1185/03007998409109590 .