Medical Term:

papaverine

Pronunciation: pă-pav′ĕr-ēn

Definition: A nonnarcotic benzylisoquinoline alkaloid of opium that has mild analgesic action and is a powerful spasmolytic; has been used to treat male impotence by local injection, which works by inhibiting phosphodiesterase in smooth muscle cells. Also available as papaverine hydrochloride.

[L. papaver, poppy]

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Examples: glitazone, GI cocktail, etc.

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