pharmacopeia
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/api/v1/drug/papaverine

Mechanism of action

Sourced from openFDA

Mechanism-of-action class: Unknown Cellular or Molecular Interaction.

Indications

Sourced from openFDA
  • Papaverine is recommended in various conditions accompanied by spasm of smooth muscle, such as vascular spasm associated with acute myocardial infarction (coronary occlusion), angina pectoris, peripheral and pulmonary embolism, peripheral vascular disease in which there is a vasospastic element, or certain cerebral angiospastic states; and visceral spasm, as in ureteral, biliary, or gastrointestinal colic.ICD-10: I20.9, I21.9, I26.99

Contraindications

Sourced from openFDA
  • Intravenous injection of papaverine is contraindicated in the presence of complete atrioventricular heart block. When conduction is depressed, the drug may produce transient ectopic rhythms of ventricular origin, either premature beats or paroxysmal tachycardia.contraindicated

Dosage & administration

Sourced from openFDA

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.

Adverse reactions

Sourced from openFDA

The following side effects have been reported: general discomfort, nausea, abdominal discomfort, anorexia, constipation or diarrhea, skin rash, malaise, vertigo, headache, intensive flushing of the face, perspiration, increase in the depth of respiration, increase in heart rate, a slight rise in blood pressure, and excessive sedation. Hepatitis, probably related to an immune mechanism, has been reported infrequently. Rarely, this has progressed to cirrhosis.

Use in specific populations

Sourced from openFDA

Usage In Pregnancy - Pregnancy Category C - No teratogenic effects were observed in rats when papaverine hydrochloride was administered subcutaneously as a single agent. It is not known whether papaverine can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman or can affect reproduction capacity. Papaverine Hydrochloride should be given to a pregnant woman only if clearly needed.

Overdosage

Sourced from openFDA

Signs and Symptoms - The symptoms of toxicity from papaverine hydrochloride often result from vasomotor instability and include nausea, vomiting, weakness, central nervous system depression, nystagmus, diplopia, diaphoresis, flushing, dizziness, and sinus tachycardia. In large overdoses, papaverine is a potent inhibitor of cellular respiration and a weak calcium antagonist. Following an oral overdose of 15 g, metabolic acidosis with hyperventilation, hyperglycemia, and hypokalemia have been reported. No information on toxic serum concentrations is available. Following intravenous overdosing in animals, seizures, tachyarrhythmias, and ventricular fibrillation have been reported. The oral median lethal dose in rats is 360 mg/kg. Treatment - To obtain up-to-date information about the treatment of overdose, a good resource is your certified Regional Poison Control Center. Telephone numbers of certified poison control centers are listed in the Physician's Desk Reference (PDR). In managing overdosage, consider the possibility of multiple drug overdoses, interaction among drugs, and unusual drug kinetics in your patient. Protect the patient's airway and support ventilation and perfusion.

FAERS reports

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Reference statistics only. FAERS reports are voluntarily submitted and are not incidence rates, safety signals, or causal evidence. Counts reflect reporting volume — how often a reaction was reported, not how often it occurs. For decision-grade use, consult openFDA and the FAERS Public Dashboard directly.
98 total reports matchedLatest report Share = reports listing the reaction ÷ total matched reports. Rows can sum to >100% because a single report often lists multiple reactions.
  1. 1Drug Interaction2323%
  2. 2Toxicity To Various Agents2323%
  3. 3Hypotension2222%
  4. 4Constipation1818%
  5. 5Pain1616%
  6. 6Balance Disorder1414%
  7. 7Blood Calcium Decreased1414%
  8. 8Cognitive Disorder1414%
  9. 9Creatinine Renal Clearance Decreased1414%
  10. 10Depressed Level Of Consciousness1414%
  11. 11Drug Abuse1414%
  12. 12Dyspnoea1414%
  13. 13Fall1414%
  14. 14Mobility Decreased1414%
  15. 15Orthostatic Hypotension1414%

Literature

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Recent PubMed references pinned to Papaverine as a MeSH major topic. Citations link to pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.

Clinical trials

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The 10 most recently updated of 56 ClinicalTrials.gov registrations naming Papaverine as an intervention. Registration is not evidence of efficacy or safety — reference crosswalk only.

Frequently asked questions

How does Papaverine work?
Mechanism-of-action class: Unknown Cellular or Molecular Interaction.
What is Papaverine used for?
According to FDA labeling, Papaverine carries indications including: Papaverine is recommended in various conditions accompanied by spasm of smooth muscle, such as vascular spasm associated with acute myocardial infarction (coronary occlusion), angina pectoris, peripheral and pulmonary embolism, peripheral vascular disease in which there is a vasospastic element, or certain cerebral angiospastic states; and visceral spasm, as in ureteral, biliary, or gastrointestinal colic.. This is a reference summary of labeled uses, not medical advice or a treatment recommendation.
What class of drug is Papaverine?
Papaverine is classified as Drugs used in erectile dysfunction, Papaverine and derivatives, Unknown Cellular or Molecular Interaction, Smooth Muscle Tone Alteration, Vasodilation.
What are the contraindications for Papaverine?
Papaverine labeling lists contraindications including: Intravenous injection of papaverine is contraindicated in the presence of complete atrioventricular heart block. When conduction is depressed, the drug may produce transient ectopic rhythms of ventricular origin, either premature beats or paroxysmal tachycardia.. Always consult the full prescribing information and a clinician.
Note. Data for papaverine is illustrative MVP content compiled from public sources. pharmacopeia is for educational and informational use only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice.

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