We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Health

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What is Moxonidine?

By Greg Caramenico
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 7,954
Share

Moxonidine is an anti-hypertensive, a drug prescribed to lower high blood pressure. It reduces the activation of the sympathetic nervous system, decreasing blood vessel resistance and thus the workload of the heart. In addition to its effects on blood pressure, moxonidine has been shown to reduce insulin resistance and enhance glucose metabolism, which may assist in cardiovascular disease prevention. Like other centrally acting anti-hypertensive agents, it is usually prescribed when alternative medication types are not working or cannot be given to a patient due to health considerations.

One way by which the sympathetic nervous system controls blood pressure is through increased vascular resistance and cardiac output, so diminishing these effects is a method of hypertension treatment. In the brain, α2 receptors for neurepinephrine, when activated, reduce the effects of the sympathetic nervous system and lower vascular resistance, decreasing blood pressure. A group of proteins that form a subclass of the α2s are imidazoline receptors. Several anti-hypertensive drugs, including clonidine and moxonidine, work through binding to α2 receptors and activating them. Unlike clonidine, moxonidine is specific in binding to the imidazole receptors, which makes it more selective.

Since it operates directly on the brain's physiological regulatory centers, monoxidine is classified as a centrally acting antihypertensive drug. Commonly, diuretics or ACE inhibitors, followed by beta blockers, will be prescribed first to hypertensive patients before the centrally acting agents, to which treatment resorts only when these other medications have failed or cannot be safely given. It appears equally effective compared to similar agents, like clonidine, acting directly on the central nervous system. Blood pressure reduction in patients who take this drug has been as much as 20%.

Insulin resistance syndrome, a complex of factors including decreased ability to metabolize glucose and excess abdominal fat, is correlated with increased risk of cardiovascular diseases. In various laboratory tests, moxonidine was shown to increase insulin sensitivity and improve cellular uptake of glucose, both important factors in protecting health. It also diminished weight gain and lowered systemic lipid levels in test animals. Similar studies of animal kidney failure indicated that the drug protected against further renal damage.

Normally prescribed to adults according to the level of hypertension, moxonidine is not recommended for patients with heart conditions involving hypotension or circulatory problems, since it could exacerbate these symptoms. It is not usually prescribed to those with kidney disease, nor is it given along with the thiazide class of diuretic drugs, which could cause hypotension when combined with another medication with similar effects. It should be noted that in clinical trials, moxonidine had fewer side effects than did clonidine.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
Share
https://www.wisegeek.net/what-is-moxonidine.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.