Vasopressor

As vasopressors are substances which are used to the blood pressure to lift or support. The mechanism of action lies mostly in the activation of receptors in the sympathetic nervous system . The consequences are increased vascular tone, increased contractility of the heart and increased cardiac pump volume.

A naturally occurring vasopressor formed in the hypothalamus is the antidiuretic hormone (ADH, vasopressin). As a nonapeptide (made up of nine amino acid units ) it can be produced synthetically and used as a blood pressure-increasing drug .