General information Gold is a heavy yellow-colored element (symbol Au; atomic no. 79). Its symbol derives from the Latin word aurum. It is usually found as the metallic element but can occur as salts such gold telluride (sylvanite). Auranofin is a triethylphosphine gold derivative for oral administration. Sodium aurothiomalate is water-soluble and is given intramuscularly as an aqueous solution. Aurothioglucose is water-soluble and is given intramuscularly…

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General information Glycols are aliphatic dihydric alcohols. Primary and secondary glycols are thick liquids, and tertiary glycols (pinacones) are crystalline solids. The principal glycols to which people are or have been exposed, either occupationally or in medicinal products, are listed in Table 1 . Table 1 Glycols Glycol Structure Diethylene glycol HO.CH.CH 2 .O.CH 2 .CH 2 .OH Ethylene glycol HO.CH 2 .CH 2 .OH Ethyl…

General information Glycine is an amino acid that is used in a 1.5% solution for bladder irrigation during transurethral prostatectomy and sometimes continuously for 24 hours after surgery. It has also been used to irrigate renal stone fragments after percutaneous ultrasonic lithotripsy [ ] and to distend the uterus during transcervical resection of endometrium [ ]. Systemic absorption of the irrigating fluid occurs during these procedures.…

General information Glycerol is a colorless syrupy liquid that is used medically as a laxative given orally, as an enema, or in the form of suppositories. Oral hypertonic glycerol has been used as a test for reversibility of the symptoms of Ménière’s disease [ ]; however, it causes headache, nausea, and vomiting and is of poor sensitivity and specificity. Intravenous glycerol has been given to reduce…

General information Aldehydes such as glutaral (glutaraldehyde), formaldehyde, and glyoxal are used as solutions and vapors for disinfection and sterilization. The safety and biocidal efficacy of glutaral has led to its endorsement by the CDC and WHO as a substitute for formaldehyde in high-level disinfection and cold sterilization [ , ]. Glutaral is used in a 2% aqueous solution buffered to a pH of about 8…

General information Among other drugs glutamic acid has been proposed to be neuroprotective, and it has been used to reduce vincristine neurotoxicity [ ]. In a prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, concurrent oral administration of 500 mg glutamic acid tds with vincristine reduced the incidence of subjective and objective signs of vincristine neurotoxicity; however, there were no differences in constipation, weakness, or loss of knee reflexes […

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General information Glucagon-like peptide-1 is an intestinal hormone that increases insulin secretion and biosynthesis, has a trophic effect on beta cells, suppresses glucagon secretion, delays gastric emptying, increases satiety, and reduces food intake [ ]. Its effects are glucose-dependent and it should not cause hypoglycemia, but in healthy subjects hypoglycemia can occur after high doses or after fasting. Although it is a candidate for the treatment…

General information Glucagon, which is produced in the alpha cells of the islets of Langerhans, is used in type 1 diabetes mellitus to stimulate glucose output from the liver during hypoglycemia (1 mg subcutaneously, repeated once or twice) when glucose cannot be given intravenously. In some countries it is often used by personnel, such as family members, who are not medically qualified, as the first action…

General information Glaucine is a non-narcotic antitussive agent with anti-inflammatory action but little analgesic action [ ]. The D-isomer of glaucine is an alkaloid from Glaucium flavum Crantz , a species of Papaveraceae [ ]. It is as effective as codeine but has a shorter duration of action [ ]. Although glaucine prevents histamine-induced bronchoconstriction in guinea-pigs it does not have a similar action in humans…

General information Glatiramer acetate (Copaxone, also known as co-polymer 1 or cop-1) is an immunomodulatory drug that consists of a pool of synthetic peptides composed of random sequences of four amino acids, l -alanine, l -lysine, l -glutamic acid, and l -tyrosine. Its composition is based on the amino acid structure of myelin basic protein. It has been used to treat relapsing multiple sclerosis. Glatiramer acetate…

See also Floctafenine . General information Glafenine, an anthranilic acid derivative, has been withdrawn in much of the world [ ]. Until 1991 it was sold in about 70 countries (although never marketed or accepted in others), despite a long history of severe reactions (particularly anaphylaxis, fatal hepatotoxicity, and nephrotoxicity, even with normal doses). As late as 1989 the EC Committee on Proprietary Medicinal Products (CPMP)…

General information “Ginseng” is an ambiguous vernacular term, which can refer to Panax species such as Panax ginseng (Asian ginseng) and Panax quinquefolius (American ginseng), Eleutherococcus senticosus (Siberian ginseng), Pfaffia paniculata (Brazilian ginseng), or unidentified material (for example Rumanian ginseng). The genera in the family of Araliaceae (qv) include aralia, ginseng, and ivy. Asian ginseng ( Panax ginseng ) contains a wide variety of flavonoids, saponins,…

General information The family of Ginkgoaceae contains the single genus, Ginkgo, and a single species, Ginkgo . Ginkgo Ginkgo (maidenhair tree, silver apricot) contains ginkgolides, which inhibit platelet-activating factor, reducing aggregability; this may contribute to bleeding disorders in patients taking Ginkgo . Ginkgo has small beneficial effects in patients with intermittent claudication [ ] and dementias [ , ]. Extracts from the leaves of Ginkgo are…

General information Germanium is a metallic element (symbol Ge; atomic no. 32) that is found as the sulfide in the mineral argyrodite. In several countries, organic or inorganic germanium has acquired a remarkable reputation in self-medication as a widely useful prophylactic and therapeutic agent, but with little scientific evidence to support it. Some germanium compounds, particularly spirogermanium, do have certain immunoregulatory activities, but germanium itself does…

General information The genera in the family of Gentianaceae ( Table 1 ) include centaury and various types of gentian. Table 1 Genera of Gentianaceae Bartonia (screwstem) Centaurium (centaury) Cicendia (cicendia) Enicostema (whitehead) Eustoma (prairie gentian) Frasera (green gentian) Gentiana (gentian) Gentianella (dwarf gentian) Gentianopsis (fringed gentian) Halenia (spurred gentian) Lisianthius (lisianthius) Lomatogonium (lomatogonium) Obolaria (obolaria) Sabatia (rose gentian) Schultesia (wingcup) Swertia (felwort) Voyria (ghostplant) You’re…

See also Aminoglycoside antibiotics General information Gentamicin is well established for the treatment of several bacterial infections, especially those caused by Gram-negative bacteria, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa , Klebsiella species, and Serratia marcescens . In adults, it is usually given in daily doses of 240–360 mg. Drug studies Observational studies In 17 patients with suspected postoperative endophthalmitis who were given intravitreal vancomycin 0.2 mg and gentamicin 0.05…

See also Antifungal azoles [for systemic use] General information Genaconazole is an N-substituted triazole with a wide antifungal spectrum. Its absorption is slow, with peak concentrations 2–4 hours after a single dose and mean peak concentrations markedly higher after 16 days of administration. The half-life is about 90–100 hours [ ]. It has high tissue penetration, including the CNS, and good broad-spectrum antifungal activity. However, it…

See also Monoclonal antibodies General information Gemtuzumab ozogamicin (Mylotarg) consists of a humanized anti-CD33 monoclonal antibody conjugated to the cytotoxic enediyne antibiotic calicheamicin. It has been used to treat a subset of patients with acute myeloid leukemia in association with topotecan + cytarabine. Its most common adverse effects and reactions are myelosuppression, increased hepatic enzyme activity, infections, fever and chills, bleeding, nausea and vomiting, and dyspnea.…