HEXAMETHONIUM Meaning and
Definition
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Hexamethonium is a chemical compound that belongs to the class of quaternary ammonium compounds. It is primarily used as a ganglionic blocking agent, which means it acts on the autonomic ganglia in the nervous system to block the transmission of nerve impulses. The compound is often administered in the form of its bromide salt.
Hexamethonium exerts its therapeutic effects by binding to and subsequently blocking the nicotinic receptors present on the ganglionic neurons. By interfering with the stimulatory action of acetylcholine on these receptors, hexamethonium effectively inhibits the transmission of nerve signals within the autonomic ganglia. This results in the attenuation of both sympathetic and parasympathetic nerve impulses, which control involuntary bodily functions such as heart rate, blood pressure, and gastrointestinal motility.
As a ganglionic blocking agent, hexamethonium has found its utility in various medical fields. Its notable uses include the management of hypertensive emergencies, where it is employed to rapidly lower blood pressure. Additionally, hexamethonium may be utilized in the treatment of excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis), peripheral vascular diseases, and autonomic dysreflexia.
Despite its therapeutic applications, hexamethonium has numerous side effects and contraindications. Common adverse effects include dry mouth, constipation, urinary retention, blurred vision, and anhedonia. It is strictly contraindicated in patients with bronchial asthma, glaucoma, gastrointestinal obstruction, and cardiac dysrhythmias. The compound is primarily administered intravenously or intramuscularly under the supervision of a healthcare professional.
Common Misspellings for HEXAMETHONIUM
- gexamethonium
- bexamethonium
- nexamethonium
- jexamethonium
- uexamethonium
- yexamethonium
- hwxamethonium
- hsxamethonium
- hdxamethonium
- hrxamethonium
- h4xamethonium
- h3xamethonium
- hezamethonium
- hecamethonium
- hedamethonium
- hesamethonium
- hexzmethonium
- hexsmethonium
- hexwmethonium
- hexqmethonium
Etymology of HEXAMETHONIUM
The word "Hexamethonium" is derived from two components: "Hexa-" and "methonium".
1. "Hexa-" is a prefix derived from the Greek word "hex", meaning "six". It is commonly used in chemistry and mathematics to denote the number six or a hexagon shape.
2. "Methonium" is a term derived from the chemical compound "methonium chloride". The word "methonium" is a combination of "meth-" and "-onium".
- "Meth-" is a prefix derived from the chemical compound "methane", which is the simplest hydrocarbon with the molecular formula CH4. In organic chemistry, "meth-" is commonly used to denote the presence of a methyl group (-CH3), which is a recurring component in many organic compounds.
- "-onium" is a suffix often used to represent quaternary ammonium cations.
