Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 7, 2026

Dimetofrine

Dimetofrine, also known as dimethophrine or dimetophrine and sold under the brand names Dovida, Pressamina, and Superten, is a medication described as a sympathomimetic, vasoconstrictor, and cardiac stimulant. It is said to be similarly or less effective than midodrine in the treatment of orthostatic hypotension and shows substantially lower potency.

Last revised
Jul 7, 2026
Read time
≈ 1 min
Length
327 w
Citations
11
Source
Dimetofrine
Clinical data
Trade namesDovida, Pressamina, Superten
Other namesDimethophrine; Dimetrophine; Dimethofrine; DMP; SM-14; 3,5-Dimethoxy-4,β-dihydroxy-N-methylphenethylamine; 3,5-Dimethoxy-4,β-dihydroxy-N-methyl-β-phenylethylamine; β-Hydroxy-N-methyl-4-O-desmethylmescaline
Routes of
administration
Oral1
Drug classα1-Adrenergic receptor agonist; Antihypotensive agent; Vasopressor
ATC code
Identifiers
  • (RS)-4-[1-Hydroxy-2-(methylamino)ethyl]-2,6-dimethoxyphenol
CAS Number
PubChem CID
DrugBank
ChemSpider
UNII
KEGG
ChEBI
ChEMBL
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)
ECHA InfoCard100.041.210
Chemical and physical data
FormulaC11H17NO4
Molar mass227.260 g·mol−1
3D model (JSmol)
  • O(c1cc(cc(OC)c1O)C(O)CNC)C
  • InChI=1S/C11H17NO4/c1-12-6-8(13)7-4-9(15-2)11(14)10(5-7)16-3/h4-5,8,12-14H,6H2,1-3H3 checkY
  • Key:ZKGDBJAHIIXDDW-UHFFFAOYSA-N checkY
  (verify)

Dimetofrine (INNTooltip International Nonproprietary Name), also known as dimethophrine or dimetophrine and sold under the brand names Dovida, Pressamina, and Superten, is a medication described as a sympathomimetic, vasoconstrictor, and cardiac stimulant.234 It is said to be similarly or less effective than midodrine in the treatment of orthostatic hypotension and shows substantially lower potency.51

The drug is a selective α1-adrenergic receptor agonist6 but is also said to have β-adrenergic receptor agonist activity.1 It is a substituted phenethylamine and is also known as 3,5-dimethoxy-4,β-dihydroxy-N-methylphenethylamine.2 Its chemical structure is similar to that of desglymidodrine (3,6-dimethoxy-β-hydroxyphenethylamine), the active metabolite of midodrine.5

Dimetofrine remained marketed only in Italy in 2000.3

References

References

  1. McTavish D, Goa KL (November 1989). "Midodrine. A review of its pharmacological properties and therapeutic use in orthostatic hypotension and secondary hypotensive disorders". Drugs. 38 (5): 757–777. doi:10.2165/00003495-198938050-00004. PMID 2480881.
  2. Elks, J. (2014). The Dictionary of Drugs: Chemical Data: Chemical Data, Structures and Bibliographies. Springer US. p. 443. ISBN 978-1-4757-2085-3. Retrieved 31 August 2024.
  3. Schweizerischer Apotheker-Verein (2000). Index Nominum 2000: International Drug Directory. Index nominum. Medpharm Scientific Publishers. p. 352. ISBN 978-3-88763-075-1. Retrieved 31 August 2024.
  4. Baldrighi V, Aiazzi L, Castelli C, Seveso G (1984). "Double-blind clinical evaluation of dimetophrine in chronically reduced arterial tension". Curr Med Res Opin. 9 (2): 78–85. doi:10.1185/03007998409109563. PMID 6399891.
  5. McClellan KJ, Wiseman LR, Wilde MI (January 1998). "Midodrine. A review of its therapeutic use in the management of orthostatic hypotension". Drugs Aging. 12 (1): 76–86. doi:10.2165/00002512-199812010-00007. PMID 9467688.
  6. Marini U, Cecchi A, Venturini M (1984). "Controlled clinical investigation of dimetophrine versus midodrine in the management of moderately decreased arterial blood pressure". Curr Med Res Opin. 9 (4): 265–274. doi:10.1185/03007998409109590. PMID 6210180.