A channel opener, also known as a channel activator, is a type of

drug A drug is any chemical substance that causes a change in an organism's physiology or psychology when consumed. Drugs are typically distinguished from food and substances that provide nutritional support. Consumption of drugs can be via inhala ...

which facilitates ion flow through

ion channel Ion channels are pore-forming membrane proteins that allow ions to pass through the channel pore. Their functions include establishing a resting membrane potential, shaping action potentials and other electrical signals by gating the flow of ...

s. They include the following: * Potassium channel openers *

Calcium channel opener A calcium channel opener is a type of drug which facilitates ion transmission through calcium channels. An example is Bay K8644, which is an analogue of nifedipine that specifically and directly activates L-type voltage-dependent calcium chann ...

s *

Sodium channel opener A sodium channel opener is a type of drug which facilitates ion transmission through sodium channels. Examples include toxins, such as aconitine, veratridine, batrachotoxin, robustoxin, palytoxin and ciguatoxins and insecticides (DDT and pyrethr ...

s *

Chloride channel opener A chloride channel opener is a type of drug which facilitates ion transmission through chloride channels. An example is 1,10-phenanthroline, which activates Cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) chloride channels. GABA-A re ...

See also