Pharmacologic Substance
papaverine Audio
pa·pav·er·ine [ puh-pav-uh-reen, -er-in, puh-pey-vuh-reen, -ver-in ]
Effect:
Smooth Muscle Tone Alteration; Vasodilation
May Treat:
Angina Pectoris; Arrhythmias, Cardiac; Arterial Occlusive Diseases; Brain Ischemia; Colic; Erectile Dysfunction; Pulmonary Embolism; Raynaud Disease; Thromboembolism
More Information:
ChemID; DrugBank; DailyMed; PDR
Definitions related to 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.
    NLM Medical Subject Headings
    U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2025
  • An opiate alkaloid isolated from the plant Papaver somniferum and produced synthetically. As a direct-acting smooth muscle relaxant, papaverine is not closely related to the other opium alkaloids in structure or pharmacological actions; its mechanism of action may involve the non-selective inhibition of phosphodiesterases and direct inhibition of calcium channels. This agent also exhibits antiviral activity against respiratory syncytial virus, cytomegalovirus, and HIV. (NCI04)
    NCI
    U.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
  • Opium alkaloid used as a smooth muscle relaxant and weak analgesic.
    CRISP Thesaurus
    National Institutes of Health, 2006
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This content should not be used in place of medically-reviewed decision support reference material or professional medical advice. Some terms may have alternate or updated definitions not reflected in this set. The definitions on this page should not be considered complete or up to date.