General information Lindane is a pesticide that is widely used in the treatment of scabies and pediculosis, usually in a 1% lotion [ ]. It is the gamma-isomer of 1,2,3,4,5,6-hexachlorocyclohexane. The hazards of excessive industrial exposure and accidental ingestion have been well documented [ ]. Some feel that 1% lindane is safe when used properly [ , ], but precautionary recommendations have been made [ ]:…

General information The two established members of the group of antibiotics known as the lincosamides, lincomycin and its semisynthetic derivative clindamycin, have a narrow antibacterial spectrum involving mostly Gram-positive species and some obligate anerobes, such as Bacteroides . Like chloramphenicol and erythromycin, they combine with a subunit of bacterial ribosomes and interfere with protein synthesis. Whereas oral lincomycin has a systemic availability of about 40%, which…

General information Since the 1980s limonene has been used as an alternative to traditional solvents and degreasing agents. It is a monoterpene found in a variety of fruits, vegetables, herbs, trees, and bushes. Limonene constitutes the main volatile component of some citrus oils and represents a small fraction of the terpenes in pine needle oils and turpentine. Biogenic and anthropogenic sources release large amounts of limonene…

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

See also Calcium channel blockers General information Lidoflazine is a calcium channel blocker that has been used to treat angina pectoris and acute coronary syndrome [ , ] and in atrial fibrillation [ ]. 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

See also Anesthetics, local ; Antidysrhythmic drugs General information Lidocaine is the most widely used aminoamide local anesthetic agent, with a low toxic potential; its effects are mostly typical for this class of drug. It can be given by injection or topically and is also combined with prilocaine in Emla for topical administration. It is also used as an antidysrhythmic drug and has occasionally been used…

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

See also Fluoroquinolones General information Levofloxacin, the levorotatory S-enantiomer of the racemate ofloxacin, is an oral and parenteral fluoroquinolone that has bactericidal activity against a wide spectrum of Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacilli (including Streptococcus pneumoniae ), as well as atypical respiratory pathogens. Levofloxacin penetrates the cerebrospinal fluid when the meninges are inflamed. In 10 patients with external ventriculostomies, who were given levofloxacin 500 mg intravenously bd…

General information Nigrostriatal dopamine is depleted in patients with Parkinson’s disease, but it cannot be used to treat the disease since it is poorly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract and is metabolized extensively in the periphery, hardly penetrating the central nervous system. Levodopa, a precursor that is decarboxylated to dopamine, but is much more lipid soluble, was developed to overcome this problem. It was originally given…

See also Antihistamines General information Levocetirizine is the R-enantiomer of cetirizine dihydrochloride and, like cetirizine, undergoes minimal hepatic metabolism [ ]. Levocetirizine has twice the affinity for H 1 receptors as cetirizine [ ]. It is efficacious and well tolerated in patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis [ ]. Levocetirizine, has pharmacodynamically and pharmacokinetically favorable characteristics. Clinical trials have shown that it is safe and effective in…

See also Antihistamines General information Levocabastine is a second-generation antihistamine [ ]. Since levocabastine is applied locally in the eye or nose, local reactions are most often seen. Most frequent is ocular irritation followed by nasal irritation. Sedation does not seem to be common and no cardiac effects have been registered. You’re Reading a Preview Become a Clinical Tree membership for Full access and enjoy Unlimited…

General information Levobupivacaine is the levorotatory isomer, S(−)-bupivacaine, of bupivacaine, an amide local anesthetic. In a comparison of the clinical efficacy of epidural S(−)-bupivacaine with standard racemic RS-bupivacaine in 88 patients S(−)-bupivacaine was clinically indistinguishable from RS-bupivacaine in the three groups studied (0.75% or 0.5% S(−)-bupivacaine and 0.5% RS-bupivacaine). Hypotension was distributed evenly across the groups and five patients complained of minor neurological abnormalities (hypesthesia and…

See also Antiepileptic drugs . General information Levetiracetam is a piracetam derivative used in the treatment of refractory partial seizures. In trials it has shown an excellent tolerability profile. The main dose-related adverse reactions are sedation, fatigue, and headache. Other possible adverse reactions include dizziness, unsteadiness, diplopia, nausea, infection, memory impairment, and disturbances of mood and behavior, although in controlled trials the incidences of most of…

General information Levamisole is the levorotatory isomer of tetramisole. Originally used only as an antihelminthic drug, it acts by paralysing the musculature of susceptible nematodes so that they are expelled by peristalsis. It is rapidly metabolized and excreted, with a half-life of about 4 hours. It is used as an immunomodulating drug in adjuvant therapy for colon cancer, usually in combination with 5-fluorouracil, and in other…

General information The leukotriene receptor antagonists are antagonists of cysteinyl leukotrienes at CysLT 1 receptors and include zafirlukast, montelukast, and pranlukast. Drug studies Placebo-controlled studies The efficacy and tolerability of montelukast, in combination with a selective histamine H 1 receptor antagonist (loratadine), has been investigated in a randomized, double-blind, crossover study for 2 weeks in 125 asthmatic subjects (mean FEV 1 67% predicted), who took montelukast…

General information Letosteine is a mucolytic, used orally to loosen bronchial secretions and facilitate expectoration [ , ]. In a systematic review of six randomized controlled trials in 438 children, antitussives, antihistamine-decongestant combinations, other fixed drug combinations, and antihistamines were no more effective than placebo in relieving symptoms of acute cough; however, based on a single study, letosteine was more effective than placebo [ ]. You’re…

General information Lesopitron is a non-benzodiazepine anxiolytic drug. Its structure is similar to that of buspirone, and it is an agonist at central serotonin (5-HT 1A ) receptors [ ]. In a 6-week, double-blind, randomized, parallel, phase II, single-center, outpatient comparison of lesopitron 40–80 mg/day, lorazepam 2–4 mg/day, and placebo in 161 patients with generalized anxiety disorder, the most common adverse events associated with lesopitron were…

See also Calcium channel blockers General information Lercanidipine is a third-generation dihydropyridine for once-daily dosing in hypertension. It has similar antihypertensive efficacy and adverse effects to other calcium channel blockers [ ]. Drug studies 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 Lepirudin is a direct thrombin inhibitor obtained by recombinant technology from the medicinal leech and used for treatment of patients with heparin-induced thrombocytopenia and allergic reactions [ ]. An 85-year-old woman developed localized infiltrated plaques followed by a disseminated exanthematous reaction 10 days after the start of dalteparin therapy [ ]. Intradermal tests with a comprehensive series of undiluted commercial drugs yielded positive reactions…

General information Lentinan is an immunomodulating glucan that is extracted from the mushroom Lentinus edodes. It has been used in small numbers of patients with gastric cancers [ ] and malignant effusions [ ]. It has also been used in HIV-positive patients [ ] and to ameliorate impairment of natural killer cell activity after cardiopulmonary bypass [ ]. Of 98 patients with HIV infection, treatment had…