Papaverine

Papaverine
Clinical data
Pronunciation/pəˈpævərn/
Trade namesPavabid, others
AHFS/Drugs.comMonograph
MedlinePlusa682707
Pregnancy
category
  • AU: A
Routes of
administration
Oral, intravenous, intramuscular, rectal, intracavernosal
ATC code
Legal status
Legal status
Pharmacokinetic data
Bioavailability80%
Protein binding~90%
MetabolismHepatic
Elimination half-life1.5–2 hours
ExcretionRenal
Identifiers
  • 1-[(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)methyl]-6,7-dimethoxyisoquinoline
CAS Number
PubChem CID
DrugBank
ChemSpider
UNII
KEGG
ChEBI
ChEMBL
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)
ECHA InfoCard100.000.361
Chemical and physical data
FormulaC20H21NO4
Molar mass339.391 g·mol−1
3D model (JSmol)
  • COc1ccc(cc1OC)Cc2c3cc(c(cc3ccn2)OC)OC
  • InChI=1S/C20H21NO4/c1-22-17-6-5-13(10-18(17)23-2)9-16-15-12-20(25-4)19(24-3)11-14(15)7-8-21-16/h5-8,10-12H,9H2,1-4H3 Y
  • Key:XQYZDYMELSJDRZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N Y
 NY (what is this?)  (verify)

Papaverine (Latin papaver, "poppy") is an opium alkaloid antispasmodic drug, used primarily in the treatment of visceral spasms and vasospasms (especially those involving the intestines, heart, or brain), occasionally in the treatment of erectile dysfunction and acute mesenteric ischemia. While it is found in the opium poppy, papaverine differs in both structure and pharmacological action from the analgesic morphine and its derivatives (such as codeine).

In addition to opium, papaverine is purported to be present in high concentrations in star gooseberry.