Category Internal Medicine

Baclofen

General information Baclofen is a chlorophenyl derivative of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), a naturally occurring inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain and spinal cord. It is of proven therapeutic value in reducing the severity of flexor or extensor spasms resulting from spinal…

Bacitracin

General information Bacitracin has mostly dermatological uses. It can cause allergic reactions of the delayed type. A shock-like picture after local application has occurred in a hypersensitive individual [ ]. Since bacitracin is nephrotoxic, it should not be given intraperitoneally…

Azithromycin

See also Macrolide antibiotics General information The overall adverse reactions rate for azithromycin is 0.7% [ ]. Only diarrhea, nausea, and abdominal pain occurred in over 1% of patients. Other adverse effects that were reported from clinical trials in adults…

Azelastine

See also Antihistamines General information Azelastine is a second-generation antihistamine, a phthalazinone compound with antiallergic and bronchodilator properties [ ]. It is available as a nasal spray and in oral form for the treatment of allergic rhinitis and asthma as…

Azathioprine and mercaptopurine

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…

Azapropazone

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…

Azacitidine

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…

Avoparcin

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…