Pronunciation: [lˈɛvɒfd] (IPA) 
The word "Levophed" is spelled with the IPA phonetic transcription /lɛvəfɛd/. The "L" is pronounced as "luh," the "e" is pronounced as "eh," the "v" is pronounced as "vuh," the "o" is pronounced as "uh," the "p" is pronounced as "puh," the "h" is pronounced as "huh," the "e" is pronounced as "eh," and the "d" is pronounced as "duh." This medication is a vasoconstrictor that is used to treat low blood pressure.
Levophed is a trade name for the drug Norepinephrine, which is a synthetic form of the hormone and neurotransmitter norepinephrine. It is primarily used as a vasopressor medication to treat critically low blood pressure in medical emergencies and situations such as septic shock, hypotension during anesthesia, and cardiogenic shock.
As a potent vasoconstrictor, Levophed works by narrowing the blood vessels, which helps increase blood pressure and improve blood flow to vital organs like the brain and kidneys. It stimulates alpha-adrenergic receptors in the peripheral blood vessels, resulting in the constriction of both arterial and venous vessels.
The drug is administered intravenously and is typically employed in a controlled medical setting by healthcare professionals due to its potent effect on blood pressure. The dosage of Levophed and the administration rate are carefully titrated and adjusted based on the patient's response and condition, which requires close monitoring.
Although Levophed can be a lifesaving treatment in emergency situations, it carries potential side effects that may include high blood pressure, decreased blood flow to peripheral tissues, tissue necrosis, irregular heart rhythm, anxiety, and headaches. Therefore, cautious and diligent administration is crucial to ensure patient safety.
In summary, Levophed is a medication that helps increase blood pressure in emergency situations where critically low blood pressure poses a significant risk to the patient's well-being.
The word "Levophed" is derived from the combination of two terms: "levo-" and "-phed".
1. "Levo-" is a prefix derived from the Latin word "levis", which means "left" or "left-hand side". In medical terminology, "levo-" is used to indicate the left side of the body or to denote compounds that rotate polarized light counterclockwise.
2. "-phed" refers to "phenylephrine", which is the active ingredient of the medication. Phenylephrine is a sympathomimetic drug that acts on alpha-adrenergic receptors to increase blood pressure. The "-phed" part of Levophed is derived from the chemical name "phenylephrine".
Combining these two elements, "Levophed" denotes a medication that contains the optically active (left-handed) form of phenylephrine.
