Oxyfedrine
An older anti-anginal agent with partial beta-adrenergic agonist and coronary vasodilator activity, used historically in some European and Asian markets. It aims to improve coronary blood flow while providing mild positive inotropy, an unusual profile among anti-anginals.
01 Overview
Oxyfedrine is a partial beta-1 adrenoceptor agonist that produces coronary vasodilation and mild positive inotropic and chronotropic effects, intended to improve myocardial oxygen supply. Its partial-agonist character was proposed to give benefit at rest while limiting excessive stimulation under sympathetic drive.
It is an older drug largely superseded by beta-blockers, calcium antagonists, nitrates and modern metabolic agents, and is not marketed in the US or UK. Human evidence is limited and dated, so it is included here for completeness of the anti-anginal landscape rather than as a current recommendation.
02 Mechanism
Acts as a partial beta-1 adrenoceptor agonist producing coronary vasodilation with mild positive inotropic and chronotropic effects, intended to improve myocardial perfusion.
03 Dosing
| Tier | Dose | Route | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Historic dosing | 24–48 mg/day | Oral | Older regimens, typically divided; dated data. |
04 Effects
| Effect | Magnitude | Evidence | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coronary vasodilationImproves coronary blood flow in older studies of angina patients. | Observational | ||
| Mild positive inotropyPartial beta-1 agonism gives modest inotropic support, an atypical anti-anginal feature. | Preclinical |
05 Side effects
| Effect | Severity | Frequency | Evidence | Countermeasures |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tremor and nervousnessSympathomimetic tremor and restlessness. | Mild | Uncommon | Observational | |
| Palpitations / tachycardiaBeta-agonist activity can raise heart rate and cause palpitations. | Moderate | Common | Observational |