General information Praziquantel, initially introduced as a veterinary cesticidal drug, was found to have efficacy against all the human species of schistosomes (including cerebral forms), fasciolopsiasis, cysticercosis, paragonimiasis (lung fluke), Clonorchis sinensis (oriental liver fluke), and Opisthorchis viverrini infections. It is used in a single oral dose of 40 mg/kg, except in infestations with Schistosoma japonicum , Clonorchis , and Paragonimus , for which more prolonged…

See also HMG coenzyme-A reductase inhibitors General information Pravastatin is an HMG coenzyme A reductase inhibitor, used to modify serum lipid concentrations. Drug studies Placebo-controlled studies In a placebo-controlled study of 1142 patients with hypercholesterolemia who took pravastatin for 8–16 weeks, the numbers of “adverse drug experiences” were similar in the treated and untreated individuals [ ]. Rash was the only adverse clinical event that was…

See also Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) General information Pranoprofen is an arylalkanoic acid non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug [ ], which has been used topically in the eyes, for example to treat chronic allergic conjunctivitis [ ] and as an anti-inflammatory and analgesic agent after strabismus surgery [ ]. You’re Reading a Preview Become a Clinical Tree membership for Full access and enjoy Unlimited articles Become membership If…

See also Leukotriene receptor antagonists General information Pranlukast is a leukotriene receptor antagonist. It was developed primarily for the Japanese market and there is little international experience of it. To date, adverse events have occurred in under 1% of patients and gastrointestinal effects were the most common, accounting for 4.7% of reported adverse events [ ]. You’re Reading a Preview Become a Clinical Tree membership for…

General information Pramipexole is a non-ergot dopamine agonist similar to bromocriptine, used in the management of Parkinson’s disease as an adjunct to levodopa. In a systematic review of randomized controlled trials of pramipexole and ropinirole, dizziness, nausea, hypotension, hallucinations, and somnolence were common adverse effects [ ]. In 306 patients adverse events secondary to pramipexole that occurred in over 10% included dyskinesias, asymptomatic orthostatic hypotension, dizziness,…

See also Beta-adrenoceptor antagonists General information Practolol is a highly cardioselective beta-adrenoceptor antagonist with partial agonist activity. Practolol was withdrawn from general oral use (because of sclerosing peritonitis and the oculomucocutaneous syndrome) [ ]. The syndrome included a psoriasiform rash, xerophthalmia due to lacrimal gland fibrosis, secretory otitis media, fibrinous peritonitis, and a lupus-like syndrome [ , ]. The pathogenesis of this adverse reaction is unknown,…

General information Potassium perchlorate is a thyrostatic drug that is still used (in a dose of 1000 mg/day or more) as an alternative to the thionamides, especially in cases of allergy and sometimes in cases of amiodarone-induced hyperthyroidism [ ]. It has also been used to treat the iodine-induced form of thyrotoxicosis, such as type 1 hyperthyroidism due to amiodarone (qv). Compared with the thionamides, potassium…

General information Oral potassium chloride is used to prevent or correct potassium depletion due to diuretic use or other conditions. Potassium chloride is available not only for medicinal purposes but also as a food supplement and salt substitute. The main adverse reaction to oral potassium salts is hyperkalemia, particularly when they are used in combination with potassium-sparing drugs, such as spironolactone and ACE inhibitors, and gastrointestinal…

See also Antifungal azoles [for systemic use] General information Posaconazole is a lipophilic antifungal triazole. In vitro, it has broad-spectrum activity against opportunistic, endemic, and dermatophytic fungi, including organisms that are often resistant to existing agents, such as C. glabrata , C. krusei , A. terreus , Fusarium species, and the Zygomycetes [ , ]. A large variety of animal models of invasive fungal infections have…

General information Polyvidone (polyvinylpyrrolidone, povidone) is a variable-weight polymer of the monomer N-vinylpyrrolidinone. When it enters the body, it causes histologically characteristic reactions in tissues with which it comes into contact [ , ]. Polyvidone co-polymers are used in cosmetics as antimicrobials, antistatics, binding compounds, stabilizers of emulsions, and film-forming, viscosity-controlling, hair-fixing, skin-conditioning, and skin-protective agents. Polyvidone is used as a component of hair sprays and…

General information Polyurethanes are organic polymers that are formed by reacting a polyol (an alcohol with more than two reactive hydroxyl groups per molecule) with a diisocyanate or a polymeric isocyanate in the presence of suitable catalysts and additives. Flexible polyurethane forms are used in upholstery, mattresses, chemical-resistant coatings, adhesives, sealants, and packaging. Rigid foams are used in insulation for buildings, water heaters, refrigerated transport, and…

General information Polytetrafluoroethylene (Polytef) is widely used in industry. “Teflon” is used in household appliances to avoid sticking of food. Polytef paste is used for a variety of medical purposes, including replacement grafts in vascular surgery, vocal cord or fold augmentation, and correction of vesicoureteric reflux and urinary incontinence. The use of polytetrafluoroethylene has become controversial because of reports of granulomatous reactions and distant migration of…

See also Ion exchange polymers General information The polystyrene sulfonates are sulfonated derivatives of polystyrene and have high affinities for ions; they therefore belong to the group of compounds known as ionomers. Uses Polystyrene sulfonic acid has been used as sodium, potassium, and calcium salts. Sodium polystyrene sulfonate has been used to treat hyperkalemia in patients with renal insufficiency and as an adjuvant during hemodialysis. It…

General information Polyoxyl castor oil (polyethoxylated castor oil, Kolliphor EL, or Cremophor EL) is prepared by reacting ethylene oxide with castor oil in a ratio of 35:1. This results in a compound in which the hydroxyl groups of the castor oil triglyceride are ethoxylated, forming polyethylene glycol ethers [ ]. It has been used as a pharmaceutical solvent for many drugs, such as artemisinin derivatives […

General information The polymyxins are antibacterial agents that are produced from different strains of Bacillus polymyxa . Because of their poor tissue distribution and their substantial nephrotoxicity and neurotoxicity, they are mainly restricted to topical use. However, they can be considered for serious systemic infections caused by multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria [ ]. The polymyxins that are used clinically are polymyxin B and colistin (formerly known as…

General information Polyhexanide is a polymerized form of chlorhexidine, used as a disinfectant [ ], for example to protect contact lenses [ ]. You’re Reading a Preview Become a Clinical Tree membership for Full access and enjoy Unlimited articles Become membership If you are a member. Log in here

General information The genera in the family of Polygonaceae ( Table 1 ) include buckwheat and rhubarb. Table 1 Genera of Polygonaceae Antenoron (antenoron) Antigonon (antigonon) Aristocapsa (spiny cape) Brunnichia (buckwheat vine) Centrostegia (centrostegia) Chorizanthe (spineflower) Coccoloba (coccoloba) Dedeckera (July gold) Dodecahema (spineflower) Emex (three-corner jack) Eriogonum (buckwheat) Fagopyrum (buckwheat) Gilmania (golden carpet) Goodmania (spine cape) Hollisteria (hollisteria) Homalocladium (homalocladium) Koenigia (koenigia) Lastarriaea (lastarriaea) Mucronea (spine…

General information Polygeline is a plasma volume expander used as a 3.5% solution with electrolytes in the management of hypovolemic shock. It is also used in extracorporeal perfusion fluids, as a perfusion fluid for isolated organs, as fluid replacement in plasma exchange, and as a carrier solution for insulin. Organs and systems You’re Reading a Preview Become a Clinical Tree membership for Full access and enjoy…

General information Polyacrylonitrile is a constituent of dialysis membranes [ ]. You’re Reading a Preview Become a Clinical Tree membership for Full access and enjoy Unlimited articles Become membership If you are a member. Log in here

General information There are two types of poliomyelitis vaccines available. One is prepared from polioviruses that as a rule have been inactivated by formaldehyde. Inactivated poliomyelitis vaccine (IPV) is given parenterally. The second group of polio vaccines comprises attenuated strains of live polioviruses (oral poliomyelitis vaccine, OPV), which are given orally; these live vaccines are the most widely used. Inactivated poliomyelitis vaccine Inactivated poliomyelitis vaccine produced…