Chemicals and Drugs

Papaverine

An alkaloid found in opium but not closely related to the other opium alkaloids in its structure or pharmacological actions. It is a direct-acting smooth muscle relaxant used in the treatment of impotence and as a vasodilator, especially for cerebral vasodilation. The mechanism of its pharmacological actions is not clear, but it apparently can inhibit phosphodiesterases and it may have direct actions on calcium channels.

National Library of MedicineMedical Subject Headings2026

Structured Summary

Abstract

An alkaloid found in opium but not closely related to the other opium alkaloids in its structure or pharmacological actions. It is a direct-acting smooth muscle relaxant used in the treatment of impotence and as a vasodilator, especially for cerebral vasodilation. The mechanism of its pharmacological actions is not clear, but it apparently can inhibit phosphodiesterases and it may have direct actions on calcium channels.

Chemical Identity

Chemical Information

Molecular Formula
C20H21NO4
Molecular Weight
339.4 g/mol
CAS Registry No.
58-74-2
IUPAC Name
1-[(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)methyl]-6,7-dimethoxyisoquinoline
InChIKey
XQYZDYMELSJDRZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N
SMILES
COC1=C(C=C(C=C1)CC2=NC=CC3=CC(=C(C=C32)OC)OC)OC
MeSH Unique ID
D010208
Source
PubChem CID 4680

MeSH Record

Classification

Broader headings

Narrower headings

Related Concepts

Knowledge Graph

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Drug Class

Pharmacological Action

MeSH Record

Synonyms

5 entry terms
  • Cerespan
  • Papaverine Hydrochloride
  • Pavabid
  • Pavatym
  • Hydrochloride, Papaverine

MeSH Record

Aspects Covered

27 allowable subheadings

Indexed with the subheadings administration & dosage, adverse effects, agonists, analogs & derivatives, analysis, antagonists & inhibitors, biosynthesis, blood, cerebrospinal fluid, chemical synthesis, chemistry, classification, economics, genetics, history, immunology, isolation & purification, metabolism, pharmacokinetics, pharmacology, poisoning, radiation effects, standards, supply & distribution, therapeutic use, toxicity, urine.

MeSH Hierarchy

Tree Numbers

  1. D03w.132w.098.666w
  2. D03w.132w.577.750w
  3. D03w.633.100.531.085.666w

AMA Style

References

  1. National Library of Medicine. Papaverine. Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). 2026. Unique ID D010208. http://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/2026/D010208
  2. Papaverine. In: Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papaverine
  3. Papaverine. In: Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q410374
  4. Papaverine. In: PubChem Compound. CID 4680. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/4680