ATC Group: R01BA Sympathomimetics

The World Health Organization's ATC classification organizes medical drugs based on therapeutic properties, chemical composition, and anatomy. It helps make essential medicines readily available globally and is widely used in the pharmaceutical industry.

Position of R01BA in the ATC hierarchy

Level Code Title
1 R Respiratory system
2 R01 Nasal preparations
3 R01B Nasal decongestants for systemic use
4 R01BA Sympathomimetics

Group R01BA contents

Code Title
R01BA01 Phenylpropanolamine
R01BA02 Pseudoephedrine
R01BA03 Phenylephrine
R01BA51 Phenylpropanolamine, combinations
R01BA52 Pseudoephedrine, combinations
R01BA53 Phenylephrine, combinations

Active ingredients in R01BA

Active Ingredient Description
Phenylephrine

Phenylephrine is a sympathomimetic agent with mainly direct effects on adrenergic receptors. It has predominantly alpha adrenergic activity and is without stimulating effects on the central nervous system. The sympathomimetic effect of phenylephrine produces vasoconstriction which in turn relieves nasal congestion.

Phenylpropanolamine

Phenylpropanolamine is a sympathomimetic agent which is used as a decongestant and appetite suppressant. It was commonly used in prescription and over-the-counter cough and cold preparations. Although originally thought to act as a direct agonist of adrenergic receptors, phenylpropanolamine was subsequently found to show only weak or negligible affinity for these receptors, and has been instead characterized as an indirect sympathomimetic which acts by inducing norepinephrine release and thereby activating adrenergic receptors.

Pseudoephedrine

Pseudoephedrine is a sympathomimetic agent with direct and indirect effects on adrenergic receptors. It has alpha and beta adrenergic activity and some stimulant effect on the central nervous system. The sympathomimetic effect of pseudoephedrine produces vasoconstriction which in turn relieves nasal congestion.

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