papaverine
Noun: 1. A medicinal alkaloid: Papaverine is a naturally occurring chemical compound (an alkaloid) derived from the opium poppy. It is used as a medicine to relax involuntary (smooth) muscles, such as those found in blood vessels, the intestines, and the bronchi. A key characteristic is that it is not habit-forming.
Papaverine is used as a prescription medication. It is primarily discussed in medical contexts. * Common Contexts: Pharmacology, cardiology, gastroenterology, medical treatment. * Typical Verbs Used With: administer, prescribe, use, take, inject. * Typical Adjectives Used With: intravenous, oral, pure, synthetic.
- The doctor administered papaverine to relieve the patient's intestinal spasms.
- Papaverine is sometimes used to improve blood flow by dilating arteries.
- Unlike morphine, papaverine is a non-narcotic and nonaddictive component of opium.
- Mechanism of Action: In medical literature, papaverine is described as a phosphodiesterase inhibitor, which explains how it causes smooth muscle relaxation.
- Administration Routes: It can be given orally, by injection into a muscle (intramuscularly), or directly into a blood vessel (intravenously or intra-arterially).
- Papaverine Hydrochloride (n): The salt form of the alkaloid commonly used in pharmaceutical preparations.
- Alkaloid (n): A class of naturally occurring organic compounds that contain basic nitrogen atoms, many of which have pharmacological effects (e.g., morphine, caffeine, quinine).
- Smooth muscle relaxant: (General term) A substance that causes relaxation of involuntary muscles.
- Vasodilator: (Specific term) A substance that causes widening of blood vessels, which is one of papaverine's primary effects.
The definition of papaverine is highly specific to its chemical nature and medical function. It does not have idiomatic or colloquial meanings. Its primary meaning is always that of the specific medicinal alkaloid.
- an alkaloid medicine (trade name Kavrin) obtained from opium; used to relax smooth muscles; it is nonaddictive