Drugs acting on common receptors
The table below lists the common receptors and gives examples of both agonists and antagonists. It is not comprehensive and is intended to give examples of each.
| Receptor | Agonist | Antagonist |
|---|---|---|
| Alpha | Alpha-1: Decongestants (e.g. phenylephrine/oxymetazoline) Alpha-2: Glaucoma (e.g. topical brimonidine) | Benign prostatic hyperplasia (e.g. tamsulosin) Hypertension (e.g. doxazosin) |
| Beta-1 | Inotropes (e.g. dobutamine) | Non-selective & selective beta-blockers (e.g. atenolol, bisoprolol) |
| Beta-2 | Bronchodilators (e.g. salbutamol) | Non-selective beta-blockers (e.g. propranolol, labetalol) |
| Dopamine | Parkinson's disease (e.g. ropinirole) Prolactinoma | Schizophrenia (antipsychotics e.g. haloperidol) Anti-emetics (e.g. metoclopramide/domperidone) |
| GABA | Benzodiazepines Baclofen | Flumazenil |
| Histamine-1 | Antihistamines (e.g. loratadine) | |
| Histamine-2 | Antacids (e.g. ranitidine) | |
| Muscarinic | Glaucoma (e.g. pilocarpine) | Atropine (e.g. for bradycardia) Bronchodilator (e.g. ipratropium bromide, tiotropium) Urge incontinence (e.g. oxybutynin) |
| Nicotinic | Nicotine Varenicline (used for smoking cessation) Depolarising muscle relaxant (e.g. suxamethonium) | Non-depolarising muscle relaxants (e.g. atracurium) |
| Oxytocin | Inducing labour (e.g. Syntocinon) | Tocolysis (e.g. atosiban) |
| Serotonin | Triptans (for acute migraine, e.g. zolmitriptan) | Anti-emetics (e.g. ondansetron) |