1. A colorless alkaloid drug derived from opium poppies, used to relax smooth muscle and treat certain circulatory and digestive disorders.
Usage: pharmaceutical/medical term; also used in veterinary medicine

Examples

• Papaverine is prescribed to improve blood flow in patients with peripheral vascular disease.
• The doctor recommended papaverine injections to relieve muscle spasms.
• Papaverine works by inhibiting phosphodiesterase, a key enzyme in smooth muscle contraction.
• Unlike morphine, papaverine has minimal narcotic effects despite being derived from the opium poppy.
• Papaverine is sometimes used in combination with other medications to treat erectile dysfunction.