NICORANDIL MECHAANISM OF ACTION

Mechanism of Action of Nicorandil:

 

• The therapeutic activity of nicorandil as a vasodilator is mainly attributed to its nitrate property.
• Its effective where other nitrates like nitroglycerine aren’t effective.
• They act in two ways.
• First nitrate like action and second K+ ATP channel opener.
• In nitrate like action they follow two paths one is via dilation of epicardial coronary artery resulting in increased coronary flow.
• And in venodilation which is another path they first help in decreasing preload then ultimately decreased myocardial O2 requirement.
• Second is K+ ATP channel opener and Nicorandil act by activating K+ATP channels in the mitochondria of the myocardium cells which shows the cardio protective activity.

                      
                            

         
 

                
REFERENCE: Tripathi K.D., “Essentials of Medical Pharmacology”, Jaypee brothers medical publishers, Seventh edition, New Delhi, page no: 522-523.