Definition and research guide
This page combines a MeSH definition, publication statistics and selected research abstracts. It is a starting point for reading the literature, not a medical textbook or a systematic evidence review.
Content available: 2 complete abstracts (424 words), 8 references. Full article text is not stored or reproduced here; follow the PMID, DOI or PMC links to read the original sources and their access terms.
Definition
A nonselective alpha-adrenergic antagonist. It is used in the treatment of hypertension and hypertensive emergencies, pheochromocytoma, vasospasm of raynaud disease and frostbite, clonidine withdrawal syndrome, impotence, and peripheral vascular disease.
Definition: NLM Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) scope note (Public domain (U.S. National Library of Medicine); attribution requested). View the MeSH record.
Also known as: Fentolamin; Phentolamine Mesylate; Mesylate, Phentolamine; Phentolamine Mesilate; Mesilate, Phentolamine; Phentolamine Methanesulfonate; Methanesulfonate, Phentolamine; Regitine.
Where it fits in the MeSH classification
- Broader topics
- Imidazoles
Related concepts
- Raynaud Disease
Research landscape
PubMed indexes 9,095 records tagged with the MeSH heading “Phentolamine” (counts retrieved 2026-10-31). 81 of them (0.9%) were published from 2020 onward, and the busiest period so far is through 1999 with 8,174 records.
Reviews account for 237 records (2.6%) and meta-analyses for 3. Randomized controlled trials number 119 (1.3%) as a share of all records on the topic. Randomized trials make up only a small share of this literature, so much of what is known comes from laboratory, observational or descriptive work.
Show the data
| Period | Records |
|---|---|
| through 1999 | 8,174 |
| 2000-2009 | 610 |
| 2010-2019 | 230 |
| 2020 onward | 81 |
Publication-type chart data
| Type | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Reviews | 237 | 2.6% |
| Meta-analyses | 3 | 0.0% |
| Randomized controlled trials | 119 | 1.3% |
Method: PubMed query "Phentolamine"[MeSH Terms] with publication-type and date filters, retrieved 2026-10-31.
Reading the evidence in drugs and chemicals
Studies of a chemical or drug can answer very different questions: what it is and how it behaves in cells and animals, how the body handles it, and whether it changes outcomes in people. Laboratory and animal findings often do not carry over to patients, and observational studies of exposures are confounded by who uses a substance and why. Nothing on this page is a recommendation to use, avoid, start or stop any substance or medicine; talk to a qualified clinician or pharmacist about your own situation. Check the dose, the species, the comparison group and whether a patient-relevant outcome was measured.
Evidence from open-access studies
These open-access studies come from PubMed’s best-match results for this heading (papers whose main topic it is), ranked here by citation count, with one recent addition. Each abstract is reproduced in full under its recorded open licence so that you can read the authors’ own words. They illustrate the literature; they are not a systematic summary of it. Citation counts measure attention, not reliability or clinical benefit.
| Study / authors | Year | Source label / design | Europe PMC citations | Licence / source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Driving β2- While Suppressing α-Adrenergic Receptor Activity Suppresses Joint Pathology in Inflammatory Arthritis | 2021 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 15 | cc by PMID 34220796 · DOI · PMC8249812 |
| Adjunctive treatment of symmetrical peripheral gangrene with phenolamine wet compress | 2025 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 0 | cc by PMID 40859539 · DOI · PMC12384844 |
Driving β2- While Suppressing α-Adrenergic Receptor Activity Suppresses Joint Pathology in Inflammatory Arthritis [1]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- ObjectiveHypersympathetic activity is prominent in rheumatoid arthritis, and major life stressors precede onset in ~80% of patients.
- Closing excerpt
- Targeting sympathetic neurotransmission may provide a strategy to slow disease progression.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (262 words)
ObjectiveHypersympathetic activity is prominent in rheumatoid arthritis, and major life stressors precede onset in ~80% of patients. These findings and others support a link between stress, the sympathetic nervous system and disease onset and progression. Here, we extend previous research by evaluating how selective peripherally acting α/β2-adrenergic drugs affect joint destruction in adjuvant-induced arthritis.MethodsComplete Freund's adjuvant induced inflammatory arthritis in male Lewis rats. Controls received no treatment. Arthritic rats then received vehicle or twice-daily treatment with the α-adrenergic antagonist, phentolamine (0.5 mg/day) and the β2-adrenergic agonist, terbutaline (1200 µg/day, collectively named SH1293) from day (D) of disease onset (D12) through acute (D21) and severe disease (D28). Disease progression was assessed in the hind limbs using dorsoplantar widths, X-ray analysis, micro-computed tomography, and routine histology on D14, D21, and D28 post-immunization.ResultsOn D21, SH1293 significantly attenuated arthritis in the hind limbs, based on reduced lymphocytic infiltration, preservation of cartilage, and bone volume. Pannus formation and sympathetic nerve loss were not affected by SH1293. Bone area and osteoclast number revealed high- and low-treatment-responding groups. In high-responding rats, treatment with SH1293 significantly preserved bone area and decreased osteoclast number, data that correlated with drug-mediated joint preservation. SH1293 suppressed abnormal bone formation based on reduced production of osteophytes. On D28, the arthritic sparing effects of SH1293 on lymphocytic infiltration, cartilage and bone sparing were maintained at the expense of bone marrow adipocity. However, sympathetic nerves were retracted from the talocrural joint.Conclusion and significanceOur findings support a significant delay in early arthritis progression by treatment with SH1293. Targeting sympathetic neurotransmission may provide a strategy to slow disease progression.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 34220796 · DOI · PMC8249812
Adjunctive treatment of symmetrical peripheral gangrene with phenolamine wet compress [2]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- RationaleSymmetrical peripheral gangrene (SPG) is a rare and life-threatening condition characterized by symmetrical distal ischemic damage that can progress to gangrene at 2 or more anatomical sites, without involvement of a large vessel obstruction or vasculitis.
- Closing excerpt
- Early correction of underlying conditions and identification of risk factors can improve patient outcomes.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (162 words)
RationaleSymmetrical peripheral gangrene (SPG) is a rare and life-threatening condition characterized by symmetrical distal ischemic damage that can progress to gangrene at 2 or more anatomical sites, without involvement of a large vessel obstruction or vasculitis. We report the case of an older adult female who developed septic shock and disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) postoperatively, complicated by the onset of SPG.Patient concernsA 66-year-old female was transferred to the intensive care unit for postoperative management. She subsequently developed septic shock and DIC. On the 10th day of admission, acral necrosis was observed in both feet.DiagnosesSeptic shock complicated by DIC and SPG.InterventionsUpon intensive care unit admission, the patient received ongoing organ support and anti-infection therapy. Phentolamine was applied via wet compresses to both feet.OutcomesDue to anastomotic leakage and multiple organ failure, the patient's family chose to discharge her from the hospital.LessonsIn cases of SPG, prevention is more important than treatment. Early correction of underlying conditions and identification of risk factors can improve patient outcomes.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 40859539 · DOI · PMC12384844
Key reviews and meta-analyses
The most cited review-type papers among PubMed’s best-match results for this heading, listed with bibliographic details only. Follow the links for the full text and access terms.
- Research article Adynamic ileus, its pathogenesis and treatment [3]
- Research article Phentolamine reversal of epinephrine-induced digital vasospasm. How to save an ischemic finger [4]
- Research article Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide/phentolamine for intracavernosal injection in erectile dysfunction [5]
- Research article Pharmacological management of erectile dysfunction [6]
- Research article Intracavernous pharmacotherapy for impotence: selection of appropriate agent and dose [7]
- Research article MONOAMINE OXIDASE INHIBITORS [8]
References
- Bellinger DL, Wood C, Wergedal JE, Lorton D. Driving β2- While Suppressing α-Adrenergic Receptor Activity Suppresses Joint Pathology in Inflammatory Arthritis. . 2021. PMID 34220796 · DOI · PMC8249812
- Zhu Y, Zhou T, Qian H, Xu H. Adjunctive treatment of symmetrical peripheral gangrene with phenolamine wet compress. . 2025. PMID 40859539 · DOI · PMC12384844
- Furness JB, Costa M. Adynamic ileus, its pathogenesis and treatment. Med Biol. 1974. PMID 4365867
- Hinterberger JW, Kintzi HE. Phentolamine reversal of epinephrine-induced digital vasospasm. How to save an ischemic finger. Arch Fam Med. 1994. PMID 7994442 · DOI
- Dinsmore WW, Wyllie MG. Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide/phentolamine for intracavernosal injection in erectile dysfunction. BJU Int. 2008. PMID 18485029 · DOI
- Montorsi F, Guazzoni G, Rigatti P, Pozza G. Pharmacological management of erectile dysfunction. Drugs. 1995. PMID 8521769 · DOI
- von Heyden B, Donatucci CF, Kaula N, Lue TF. Intracavernous pharmacotherapy for impotence: selection of appropriate agent and dose. J Urol. 1993. PMID 8479018 · DOI
- PERKS ER. MONOAMINE OXIDASE INHIBITORS. Anaesthesia. 1964. PMID 14174638 · DOI
About this article
- Sources
- NLM Medical Subject Headings (definition, synonyms); NCBI PubMed (counts, identifiers); Europe PMC (open-access abstracts and citation counts).
- Verification
- Every reference was resolved against PubMed on 2026-10-31; title, year and DOI matched.
- Review state
- automated source verified; no human expert review has been recorded yet.
- Version
- 1, last updated 2026-10-31.
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Evidence strength
EvidenceHelix's computed view of the study designs behind this topic: how common meta-analyses, randomized trials and reviews are, how recent the literature is, and a plain-language reading. It describes the design mix of the literature. It is not a quality appraisal of any study, and it is not medical advice.