Is there alpha-adrenergic blockade and/or serotonergic blockade during chronic ketanserin treatment?

Abstract

Drugs are not absolute in their specificity; the mechanisms by which many agents reduce blood pressure remain disputed. Ketanserin has been shown to have both 5-HT2-serotonergic and alpha 1-adrenergic antagonist activity. Its pharmacological profile makes its designation as a serotonergic antagonist appropriate; however, the relative contributions of at least these two, and perhaps other, mechanisms to the hypotensive effect of ketanserin during long-term oral treatment remain obscure.