Metirosine

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Metirosine
Systematic (IUPAC) name
2-amino-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-methyl-propanoic acid
Identifiers
CAS number	672-87-7
ATC code	C02KB01
PubChem	10123
Chemical data
Formula	C₁₀H₁₃N O₃
Mol. mass	195.215 g/mol
Pharmacokinetic data
Bioavailability	?
Metabolism	?
Half life	3.4–3.7 hours
Excretion	?
Therapeutic considerations
Pregnancy cat.	?
Legal status
Routes	?

Metirosine (α-Methyltyrosine, AMPT) is an antihypertensive drug. It inhibits the enzyme tyrosine hydroxylase and, therefore, catecholamine synthesis, which consequently depletes the levels of the catecholamines dopamine, adrenaline and noradrenaline in the body.

[edit] Clinical use

Metirosine is used in the treatment of phaeochromocytoma. It is contra-indicated for the treatment of essential hypertension. However it is now rarely used in medicine, and its main use is in scientific research, to investigate the effects of catecholamine depletion on behaviour.^[1]

[edit] See Also

p-Chlorophenylalanine

[edit] References

^ O'Leary OF, Bechtholt AJ, Crowley JJ, Hill TE, Page ME, Lucki I. Depletion of serotonin and catecholamines block the acute behavioral response to different classes of antidepressant drugs in the mouse tail suspension test. Psychopharmacology (Berlin). 2007 Jun;192(3):357-71. PMID 17318507

v • d • e Antihypertensives (C02) and diuretics (C03)

Sympatholytic agents (including alpha)	centrally acting/antiadrenergics: Clonidine • Guanfacine • Methyldopa • Moxonidine • Rilmenidine • adrenergic uptake inhibitor (Rescinnamine, Reserpine) ganglion-blocking/nicotinic antagonist (Mecamylamine, Trimethaphan) peripherally acting/antiadrenergics (Prazosin, Guanethidine, Indoramin, Doxazosin)

Vasodilators	Diazoxide • Hydralazine • Minoxidil • Nitroprusside • Phentolamine

Other antihypertensives	serotonin antagonist (Ketanserin) • endothelin receptor antagonist (Bosentan, Ambrisentan, Sitaxsentan)

Low ceiling diuretics	Thiazide (Bendroflumethiazide, Chlorothiazide, Hydrochlorothiazide) • Chlortalidone • Indapamide • Quinethazone • Mersalyl • Metolazone • Theobromine • Cicletanine

High ceiling diuretics	Loop diuretic (Bumetanide, Furosemide, Torasemide)

Potassium-sparing diuretics	ESC blockers (Amiloride, Triamterene) • aldosterone antagonists (Spironolactone, Eplerenone, Potassium canrenoate, Canrenone)