See also Tioguanine General information Azathioprine, 6-mercaptopurine, and 6-thioguanine are thiopurines. Azathioprine is a prodrug of mercaptopurine and thioguanine is an active metabolite. Thioguanine is covered in a separate monograph. Azathioprine, 6-(1-methyl-4-nitroimidazole-5-yl)-thiopurine, is converted non-enzymatically to mercaptopurine ( Figure 1…
See also Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) General information Azapropazone is structurally related to phenylbutazone and probably shares the same adverse effects: gastrotoxicity, skin reactions, headache, vertigo, edema, and renal impairment. A review of a very large series described azapropazone adverse…
General information Azacitidine has been approved for the treatment of myelodysplastic syndrome. It inhibits DNA methyltransferase, resulting in hypomethylation of DNA and direct cytotoxicity in abnormal hemopoietic cells in the bone marrow. The recommended dosage is 75 mg/m 2 /day…
General information Avoparcin is a glycopeptide antibiotic (see also teicoplanin and vancomycin), a large molecule that is produced by a variety of environmental micro-organisms, which may therefore contain genes that code for antimicrobial drug resistance. It is mostly active against…
See also Anticholinergic drugs General information Atropine is an anticholinergic drug that is mainly used today in premedication and occasionally to treat bradycardia in the acute phase of myocardial infarction. Organs and systems Cardiovascular In a classic study, more than…
See also Neuromuscular blocking agents General information Atracurium is a muscle relaxant with approximately one-fifth the potency of pancuronium (initial doses of 0.3–0.6 mg/kg and maintenance doses of 0.2 mg/kg being commonly used), an onset of action of 1.2–4 minutes…
General information Atovaquone is a hydroxynaphthaquinone that is effective in the prevention and treatment of murine Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonitis. It also has effects against Toxoplasma gondii and Plasmodium falciparum . Food increases its absorption. The maximum serum concentration is dose-dependent,…
See also HMG coenzyme-A reductase inhibitors General information Atorvastatin is an HMG Co-A reductase inhibitor. Pooled data from 21 completed and 23 continuing trials representing 3000 patient-years have shown that constipation, flatulence, dyspepsia, abdominal pain, headache, and myalgia occur in…
General information Atomoxetine is a non-stimulant noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor that is efficacious in the treatment of ADHD [ ]. Sudden deaths of children and adolescents taking Adderall XR® have led to the need to screen children for risks of heart…
See also Beta-adrenoceptor antagonists General information Although atenolol, a hydrophilic cardioselective beta-adrenoceptor antagonist with no partial agonist activity, is generally regarded as one of the safest beta-blockers, severe adverse effects are occasionally reported. These include profound hypotension after a single…