SUR 110
Medication Drug Cards
MEDICATION: Papaverine
TRADE NAME: Pavabid HP, Kavrin
GENERIC NAME: Papaverine hydrochloride
CLASSIFICATION: smooth muscle relaxant
ACTION: The main actions of papaverine are exerted on cardiac and smooth muscle.
Papaverine acts directly on the heart muscle to depress conduction and prolong the
refractory period. Papaverine relaxes various smooth muscles.
Papaverine relaxes the smooth musculature of the large blood vessels, especially
coronary, systemic peripheral and pulmonary arteries. Perhaps by its direct vasodilating
action on cerebral blood vessels, papaverine increases cerebral blood flow and decreases
cerebral vascular resistance in normal subjects; oxygen consumption is unaltered. These
effects may explain the benefit reported from the drug in cerebral vascular
encephalopathy.
ROUTE (IN SURGERY): parenteral administration
DOSAGE (ADULT): Papaverine hydrochloride may be administered intravenously or
intramuscularly. The intravenous route is recommended when an immediate effect is
desired, but the drug must be injected slowly over the course of 1 or 2 minutes to avoid
uncomfortable or alarming side effects.
Parenteral administration of papaverine hydrochloride in doses of 1 to 4 mL is repeated
every 3 hours as indicated. In the treatment of cardiac extrasystoles, 2 doses may be
given 10 minutes apart.
SIDE EFFECTS: (2 MOST COMMON AND 2 MOST SERIOUS): occurring rarely:
side effects include nausea, abdominal distress, anorexia, constipation, malaise,
drowsiness, vertigo, sweating, headache, diarrhea, skin rash, flushing of face, increase in
heart rate and depth of respiration and slight increase in blood pressure.
HOW IT IS USED IN SURGERY: Used to treat spasms of the gastrointestinal tract,
bile ducts and ureter and for use as a cerebral and coronary vasodilator in subarachnoid
hemorrhage (combined with balloon angioplasty) and coronary artery bypass surgery.
Papaverine may also be used as a smooth muscle relaxant in microsurgery where it is
applied directly to blood vessels.
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