Background:

Metaraminol is a vasoconstrictor. In vivo, metaraminol (0.05 mg/kg) increases cardiac output, mean arterial pressure, and coronary blood flow and decreases pulse rate in a canine model of cardiogenic shock. It increases survival in a canine model of hemorrhagic hypotension. Metaraminol also reverses acetoxycycloheximide-induced transient amnesia in a shock avoidance test in rats.