By mode of stimulation
- Directly acting sympathomimetics
- Agonise receptors directly (either adrenoreceptors or dopamine receptors) to stimulate the sympathetic nervous system
- Indirectly acting sympathomimetics
- Trigger the release of noradrenaline from nerve endings, which then causes sympathetic nervous system activation via the above receptors
- Examples include:
- Release stimulants e.g. ephedrine
- Enzyme inhibitors e.g. monoamine oxidase inhibitors, catechol-O-methyl transferase inhibitors
- Re-uptake inhibitors e.g. amphetamine, cocaine and tyramine
By origin
- Naturally occurring catecholamines include the endogenous neurotransmitters adrenaline, noradrenaline and dopamine
- Of course, synthetic versions of these molecules are used in clinical practice
- Synthetic catecholamines
- Isoprenaline
- Dobutamine
- Dopexamine
