General information The fragrance mix, introduced in 1977 by Larsen [ ], is used to detect sensitivity to fragrances in, for example, cosmetics and household products [ ]. The mix contains eight widely used fragrance compounds. Additional indicators of fragrance allergy are balsam of Peru and colophony. You’re Reading a Preview Become a Clinical Tree membership for Full access and enjoy Unlimited articles Become membership If…

General information Fosmidomycin is an antimicrobial drug that acts by inhibiting 1-deoxy- d -xylulose 5-phosphate reductoisomerase, a key enzyme of the non-mevalonate pathway of isoprenoid biosynthesis. It inhibits the synthesis of isoprenoids by Plasmodium falciparum and suppresses the growth of multidrug-resistant strains in vitro [ ]. In an open, uncontrolled study, fosmidomycin was administered for 3–5 days (1.2 g every 8 hours) to 27 adults with…

See also Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors General information Fosinopril is a phosphorus-containing ester prodrug of the ACE inhibitor fosinoprilat. Its clinical pharmacology, clinical use, and safety profile have been reviewed [ ]. Organs and systems 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 Fosfomycin is a broad-spectrum antibiotic used to treat uncomplicated lower urinary tract infections. It penetrates interstitial space fluids of soft tissues well and reaches concentrations sufficient to substantially inhibit the growth of relevant bacteria at the target site [ ]. Fosfomycin has relatively low toxicity. Its penetration into tissues, including bones and joints, and into the cerebrospinal fluid is good. When given orally (2–3…

General information Foscarnet (trisodium phosphonoformate hexahydrate) is a pyrophosphate analogue that interacts with the enzymatic action of polymerases and inhibits the cleavage of pyrophosphate from the nucleoside triphosphate. Because of this mechanism, the antiviral activity of the drug is broad. Foscarnet is a non-competitive inhibitor of herpesvirus DNA polymerase, hepatitis B virus DNA polymerase, and reverse transcriptases [ ]. Intravenous foscarnet has been used for the…

See also Beta 2 -adrenoceptor agonists General information Formoterol is a long-acting selective β 2 -adrenoceptor agonist that is more potent than salmeterol [ ] and has a similar duration of action (12 hours) but a rapid onset of effect similar to that of salbutamol. It is available as a multidose, pressurized aerosol and as a dry powder inhaler, delivering 0.006 or 0.012 mg per dose.…

General information Aldehydes such as formaldehyde, glyoxal, and glutaral (glutaraldehyde) are used as solutions and vapors for disinfection and sterilization. They are irritating and sensitizing and cause contact dermatitis in health-care workers [ ]. Exposure to formaldehyde occurs in certain occupational settings associated with its use as a sterilizing agent, but exposure to formaldehyde-emitting products such as particle board, urea formaldehyde insulation, carpeting, and furniture is…

See also Hair dyes , Ocular dyes General information The US Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (1938) [ ] defined three classes of certifiable colors: 1. FD&C colors: for use in coloring food, drugs, and cosmetics. 2. D&C colors: for use in coloring drugs and cosmetics intended for internal application or ingestion. 3. External D&C colors: for use in coloring drugs and cosmetics intended for…

See also Factor Xa inhibitors, direct General information Fondaparinux and idraparinux are indirect factor Xa inhibitors. Fondaparinux is a synthetic pentasaccharide that mimics the site of heparin that binds to antithrombin III and inhibits factor Xa activity, which in turn inhibits thrombin generation. It does not release tissue factor pathway inhibitor. It is nearly completely absorbed after subcutaneous administration, has a rapid onset of action and…

General information Fomivirsen (ISIS 2922) is an antisense oligonucleotide that specifically inhibits replication of human cytomegalovirus. It has been developed for intravitreal administration to treat cytomegalovirus retinitis in patients with AIDS. 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 first gonadotropins available for clinical use were extracted from the urine of postmenopausal women. Human menopausal gonadotropin (hMG) is in limited supply and contains other proteins, which may be allergenic, as well as luteinizing hormone. Purified preparations of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH; urofollitropin and highly purified urofollitropin) are also extracted from human urine. Recombinant FSH (follitropin-alfa) prepared from a Chinese hamster ovarian cell line…

See also Vitamins General information Folic acid (pteroylglutamic acid) is a vitamin of the B group, whose Average Dietary Requirement in adults has been set at 140 micrograms/day, with a Population Reference Intake of 200 micrograms Red cell folate concentrations above 150 ng/ml indicate sufficiency [ ]. However, higher doses are used for specific purposes, including in pregnancy, apparently without ill effects. Neural tube defects can…

See also Selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs) General information Fluvoxamine is a non-sedating antidepressant with fewer anticholinergic adverse effects than clomipramine or imipramine [ ]. Major adverse reactions, as with other SSRIs, include nausea and vomiting. It has a half-life of 15 hours, and peak plasma concentrations occur at 1–8 hours after oral administration [ ]. It is metabolized (by oxidation, oxidative deamination, and hydrolysis) to…

See also HMG coenzyme-A reductase inhibitors General information It has been suggested that the pharmacokinetics of fluvastatin, including extensive biliary excretion and absence of circulating active metabolites, might be associated with a low incidence of systemic adverse reactions compared with other statins. In over 1800 patients treated for an average of 61 weeks, fluvastatin was safe and tolerable [ ]. Pooled data from clinical trials have…

See also Antiandrogens General information Flutamide is a non-steroidal antiandrogen that is used to treat prostatic cancer. Its most common adverse reactions are liver damage and photosensitivity. Drug studies Comparative studies Prostate cancer Although flutamide is sufficiently well tolerated in prostatic cancer, the much older drug cyproterone acetate continues to show up favorably. In a direct comparison between the two drugs in 310 men the two…

General information Flurotyl, a hexafluorinated ether, has been used as a therapeutic inhalational convulsant in psychiatry [ ]. Its intravenous use in a polyethylene glycol solution has been discontinued because of possible renal damage. In most Western and North American countries, flurotyl is not recommended because of variations in response and dosing difficulties. It is nowadays used as an investigational tool in animals [ ]. You’re…

See also Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) General information In a short-term multicenter study of flurbiprofen only 6% of patients were withdrawn because of adverse reactions [ ]. However, in a prolonged open study in 1200 patients, more than 50% reported adverse reactions and therapy had to be withdrawn in l9% [ ]. Organs and systems Nervous system Nervous system reactions to flurbiprofen are less common than…

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General information Flupirtine is a non-opiate, centrally acting analgesic, with muscle relaxant properties. It causes predominantly nervous system adverse reactions (visual, disorientation, confusion, tremor). About 26% of patients develop minor adverse reactions [ ]. 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

See also Neuroleptic drugs General information Fluphenazine is a phenothiazine neuroleptic drug. In a double-blind comparison of a group of stabilized outpatients taking a low dosage of fluphenazine enanthate (1.25–5 mg every 2 weeks) with a group taking a standard dosage (12.5–50 mg every 2 weeks), relapse rates were higher in the low-dose group (56%) than in the standard-dose group (7%) [ ]. However, patients in…