Ketanserin

Ketanserin
Clinical data
Trade namesSufrexal, Serefrex
Other namesR-41468; R41468; R-41,468; KJK-945; R-49945; R49945
AHFS/Drugs.comInternational Drug Names
Routes of
administration
Oral
ATC code
Legal status
Legal status
  • In general: ℞ (Prescription only)
Pharmacokinetic data
Bioavailability50%
Protein binding95% (mainly albumin
MetabolismExtensive
Metabolites• Ketanserin-ol
Elimination half-life10–29 hours
ExcretionUrine; 2% unchanged
Identifiers
  • 3-{2-[4-(4-fluorobenzoyl)piperidin-1-yl]ethyl}quinazoline-2,4(1H,3H)-dione
CAS Number
PubChem CID
IUPHAR/BPS
DrugBank
ChemSpider
UNII
KEGG
ChEBI
ChEMBL
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)
ECHA InfoCard100.070.598
Chemical and physical data
FormulaC22H22FN3O3
Molar mass395.434 g·mol−1
3D model (JSmol)
  • c1ccc2c(c1)c(=O)n(c(=O)[nH]2)CCN3CCC(CC3)C(=O)c4ccc(cc4)F
  • InChI=1S/C22H22FN3O3/c23-17-7-5-15(6-8-17)20(27)16-9-11-25(12-10-16)13-14-26-21(28)18-3-1-2-4-19(18)24-22(26)29/h1-8,16H,9-14H2,(H,24,29) Y
  • Key:FPCCSQOGAWCVBH-UHFFFAOYSA-N Y
  (verify)

Ketanserin, sold under the brand name Sufrexal, is an antihypertensive agent which is used to treat arterial hypertension and vasospastic disorders. It is also used in scientific research as an antiserotonergic agent in the study of the serotonin system; specifically, the 5-HT2 receptor family. The drug is taken by mouth.

Side effects of ketanserin include dizziness, tiredness, edema, dry mouth, weight gain, and QT interval prolongation. Ketanserin acts as a selective antagonist of the serotonin 5-HT2A, α1-adrenergic, and histamine H1 receptors. It also shows lower affinity for various other targets.

Ketanserin was discovered at Janssen Pharmaceutica in 1980. It was the first serotonin 5-HT2A receptor antagonist to be discovered that showed selectivity over other serotonin receptors. The drug is not available in the United States and is mostly no longer marketed throughout the rest of the world.