Pentaerithrityl Tetranitrate

Pentaerithrityl Tetranitrate Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Food Interaction and all others data.

Pentaerithrityl Tetranitrate is the nitrate ester of pentaerythritol that possesses explosive properties. When mixed with a plasticizer, this chemical forms a plastic explosive. It is recognized by the FDA to be a coronary vasodilator in the treatment of heart conditions such as angina .

It is a pentaerythritol nitrate in which all four hydroxy groups of pentaerythritol have been converted to the corresponding nitrate ester. It is a vasodilator with properties that are quite similar to those of glyceryl trinitrate, however, with a more prolonged duration of action. It is also one of the most powerful high explosives known and is a component of the plastic explosive known as Semtex .

PETN has the chemical formula C5H8N4O12. It is formed by reacting pentaerythritol (C5H12O4), an alcohol commonly used in paints and varnishes, with nitric acid (HNO2). The reacting solution is chilled to precipitate the PETN. It is then filtered out, washed, dried, and recrystallized to produce a colorless crystalline material that is stored and shipped as a mixture with water and alcohol .

Trade Name Pentaerithrityl Tetranitrate
Generic Pentaerythritol tetranitrate
Pentaerythritol tetranitrate Other Names Corpent, PENT, PENTA, Pentaerithrityl tetranitrate, pentaerithrityli tetranitras, Pentaerythritol tetranitrate, Penthrite, Tetranitrate de pentaerithrityle, Tetranitrato de pentaeritritilo
Type
Formula C5H8N4O12
Weight Average: 316.1366
Monoisotopic: 316.01387174
Groups Approved
Therapeutic Class
Manufacturer
Available Country
Last Updated: September 19, 2023 at 7:00 am
Pentaerithrityl Tetranitrate
Pentaerithrityl Tetranitrate

Uses

Used for the treatment of angina pectoris .

How Pentaerithrityl Tetranitrate works

Pentaerithrityl Tetranitrate is the lipid soluble polyol ester of nitric acid belonging to the family of nitro-vasodilators. Pentaerithrityl Tetranitrate releases free nitric oxide (NO) after the denitration reaction, which triggers NO-dependent signaling transduction involving soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC). Nitric oxide binds reversibly to the ferrous-heme center of sGC, causing conformational change and activating the enzyme. This enzyme activation results in increased cellular concentrations of _cyclic guanosine monophosphate _(cGMP) within the vascular smooth muscle, resulting in vasodilation mediated by cGMP-dependent protein kinases. Additionally, this agent causes dose-dependent arterial and venous bed .

Toxicity

The toxicity of nitrate drugs are the result of nitrate conversion to nitrite in the body. Nitrite leads to the autocatalytic oxidation of oxyhemoglobin to both hydrogen peroxide and methemoglobin. This increase in methemoglobin levels is a condition known as methemoglobinemia and is manifested by tissue hypoxia, as methemoglobin is unable to bind oxygen .

Dizziness, redness of the skin (due to vasodilatation), skin irritation and headache are common adverse effects of this drug. Postural hypotension can also occur, especially if this drug is taken at higher doses or while standing .

PETN - Oral LD50 (mouse) = 25,000 mg/kg

Food Interaction

  • Take with or without food. Food delays drug absorption, but not to a significant extent.

Volume of Distribution

The steady-state volume of distribution was 4.2 +/- 1.1 L/kg (n = 6) in rats given this drug by the intra-arterial route .

Half Life

The elimination half-life in plasma from male volunteers given an oral 100-mg dose of the tetranitrate was reported to be 4-5 hours .

Clearance

In a pharmacokinetic study of rats after intra-arterial administration of this drug, the clearance was measured to be 0.61 +/- 0.16 L/min/kg .

Elimination Route

Mainly the urine .

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