Overview of Vasopressors and Their Importance

Vasopressors are critical medications used to increase vascular tone and systemic vascular resistance (SVR), ultimately resulting in elevated blood pressure. These medications can be categorized into two main groups: catecholamine vasopressors that stimulate alpha and beta adrenergic receptors, such as norepinephrine and epinephrine, and non-catecholamine vasopressors that act on different receptors, like vasopressin and angiotensin II. Norepinephrine is commonly recommended as the first-line vasopressor due to its balanced effects on both vascular resistance and cardiac output, which makes it particularly useful in cases of undifferentiated shock. Understanding the pharmacodynamic profiles of these drugs is essential for clinicians to make informed decisions about patient management in critical care settings.