A. Ganglion-Blocking Drugs

Blockers of ganglionic nicotinic receptors act like competitive pharmacologic antagonists, although there is evidence that some also block the pore of the nicotinic channel itself. These drugs were the first successful agents for the treatment of hypertension. Hexamethonium (C6, a prototype), mecamylamine, and several other ganglion blockers were extensively used for this disease. Unfortunately, the adverse effects of ganglion blockade in hypertension are so severe (both sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions are blocked) that patients were unable to tolerate them for long periods.