Alpha-2 blockers (or α₂ blockers) are a subset of the alpha blocker class of drugs and are antagonists to the α₂ adrenergic receptor. They are mainly used in research, having found limited clinical application in human medicine. Alpha-2 blockers increase noradrenaline release.

Uses

Yohimbine, historically used as an aphrodisiac, is sometimes used in veterinary medicine (although now largely replaced by atipamezole) for reversing the effects of α₂s such as medetomidine that are used as sedatives during surgery.^[1]

The tetracyclic antidepressants mianserin and mirtazapine are α₂ blockers, although their efficacy as antidepressants may come from their activity at other receptor sites.^{[citation needed]}

Mechanistically, α₂ blockers increase adrenergic, dopaminergic and serotonergic neurotransmitters and induce insulin secretion, decreasing blood sugar levels.^{[citation needed]}

Withdrawal from α₂ blockers can be difficult or dangerous as the global downregulation of neurotransmitters may cause symptoms of depression and other neurological problems, and increased blood sugar levels together with decreased insulin sensitivity can cause diabetes.^{[citation needed]} Moreover, reduced microcirculation together with adrenaline supersensitivity in organs such as liver can occur.^{[citation needed]}

Examples

Examples include atipamezole,^[2] efaroxan, idazoxan,^[3] yohimbine, and rauwolscine, phentolamine.