See also Cytotoxic and immunosuppressant drugs General information Fludarabine phosphate is a purine nucleoside antitumor agent, which inhibits adenosine deaminase. It is mainly used to treat chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Dose-limiting myelotoxicity, nausea and vomiting, and raised liver enzymes were observed during early clinical studies. The most common adverse effect is myelosuppression (grade 3 or 4), and other common adverse reactions include infections and gastrointestinal disturbances, although…

See also Cytotoxic and immunosuppressant drugs General information Flucytosine is an antimetabolite of the fluoropyrimidine type. The principle of selectivity of flucytosine for the fungal cell is dual: it depends on an enzyme in order to penetrate the cell (fungal cytosine permease) and a fungal enzyme that deaminates flucytosine to the active antimetabolite 5-fluorouracil, which is metabolized to 5-fluorouridine. Replacement of 5-fluorouracil in RNA results in…

See also Antifungal azoles [for systemic use] General information Fluconazole is an antifungal triazole that was derived from the older imidazoles. It has a lower molecular weight and is soluble in water. It can be administered orally and parenterally. Pharmacokinetics After oral administration, its systemic availability is about 90%; maximum plasma concentrations are seen in 1–2 hours, its half-life is about 30 hours and steady state…

See also Cytotoxic and immunosuppressant drugs General information Floxuridine is a pyrimidine analogue that is used in regional arterial chemotherapy for primary and metastatic malignancies, delivered using an implantable pump. 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 COX-2 inhibitors (coxibs) General information The clinical development flosulide, a COX-2 inhibitor, was discontinued because of nephrotoxicity [ ]. Measurement of renal prostaglandin synthesis did not predict its nephrotoxicity in single-dose and short-term 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 Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) General information Floctafenine is a 4-aminoquinoline NSAID, closely related to antrafenine and glafenine, and its adverse reactions profile is similar [ ]. 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

See also Antidysrhythmic drugs General information Flecainide is a class Ic antidysrhythmic drug. Its clinical pharmacology, clinical use, and adverse effects and reactions have been reviewed [ ]. Drug studies Observational studies Intravenous flecainide 2 mg/kg over 10 minutes (maximum 150 mg) has been used to treat paroxysmal atrial fibrillation in 23 patients without congestive heart failure, acute coronary syndrome, electrolyte imbalance, significant hepatic and renal…

See also Anticholinergic drugs General information Flavoxate is an anticholinergic drug that is used to treat bladder detrusor instability. It can cause all the adverse effects and reactions that would be expected from its anticholinergic action. 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 Omega-3 fatty acids are long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids. The parent fatty acid of this group is alpha-linolenic acid, an essential fatty acid that the body is unable to synthesize; alpha-linolenic acid can be converted in the body to eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). In animals and man, these acids reduce the production of several compounds that are involved in inflammation and thrombosis,…

See also Immunosuppressants drugs General information Fingolimod (previously FTY720) is an immunomodulator that is used in combination therapy with other immunosuppressant drugs in the prophylaxis of acute rejection after solid organ transplantation and for the treatment of multiple sclerosis. It is phosphorylated intracellularly to fingolimod phosphate, which binds to the sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor, and reduces the recirculation of lymphocytes from lymph nodes to blood and peripheral tissue,…

See also Antiandrogens General information Finasteride is a selective inhibitor of 5-alpha-reductase. It thereby reduces prostatic concentrations of dihydrotestosterone and so reduces prostatic size [ ]. It is therefore used to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia [ ] and in the prevention and treatment of prostate cancer [ ]. It is poorly effective in patients with prostatic obstruction and small prostate glands [ ], but in patients…

General information Fibrin glue is a topical tissue adhesive, a two-component system. One component contains highly concentrated fibrinogen, factor VIII, fibronectin, and traces of other plasma proteins. The other component contains thrombin, calcium chloride, and antifibrinolytic agents such as aprotinin. Mixing the two components promotes clotting. Fibrinogen is activated by thrombin in the presence of calcium, and the resultant clot aids hemostasis and tissue sealing and…

General information Fibrates reduce plasma triglycerides by inhibiting their hepatic synthesis and increasing their catabolism. They reduce the synthesis of triglyceride–very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) by increasing the beta-oxidation of fatty acids in the liver. They increase triglyceride catabolism by inducing lipoprotein lipase gene transcription and reducing apoC-III gene transcription. Fibrates increase high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol by increasing apoA-I and apoA-II gene transcription. These effects are…

See also Antihistamines General information Fexofenadine is the active metabolite of terfenadine. It has antihistaminic but not dysrhythmogenic properties. It is not metabolized by the liver, but eliminated unchanged in the urine. It is efficacious and well tolerated in seasonal allergic rhinitis [ ], with positive effects on nasal blockade [ ], and in chronic idiopathic urticaria [ , ]. Drug studies Systematic reviews Fexofenadine can…

See also Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) General information Feprazone is an NSAID that is related to phenylbutazone. It was withdrawn in the UK because of adverse reactions, which resemble those of phenylbutazone. It was designated as a last-resort drug by the Japanese Committee on Safety of Drugs [ ]. In an 8-week trial in 2693 patients with rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis, 30% reported adverse effects and…

See also Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) General information Fentiazac, a thiazoleacetic acid derivative, has the same adverse reactions profile as other NSAIDs. Adverse reactions in as many as 56% of patients (5–56%), are even more frequent than with phenylbutazone [ ]. In 40 patients with rheumatoid arthritis enrolled in a double-blind trial of fentiazac 400 mg/day or sulindac 200 mg/day for 3 months, adverse reactions were…

See also Opioid receptor agonists . General information Fentanyl citrate is a synthetic opioid 1000 times more potent than pethidine. It has a relatively short duration of action, and its effects are rapidly reversed by opioid antagonists [ ]. It is useful [ ] but has typical opioid adverse effects. The analgesic effect of fentanyl 1.5 micrograms/kg has been compared with that of tramadol 1.5 mg/kg…

General information Fenspiride is a bronchodilator and anti-inflammatory drug. Two in vitro studies have suggested possible mechanisms for these effects. Functional studies in human isolated bronchi showed that fenspiride causes a shift to the left of concentration effect curves for relaxation induced by isoprenaline and sodium nitroprusside [ ]. Biochemical studies confirmed that phosphodiesterase type IV (cyclic AMP-specific) and phosphodiesterase type V (cyclic GMP-specific) are the…

See also Amphetamines , Anorectic drugs General information Fenproporex is structurally related to amfetamine, to which it is rapidly metabolized after oral ingestion. Stimulatory effects, somnolence, and electroencephalographic abnormalities are reported to be the major undesired reactions [ ]. Dependence has also been reported [ ]. Adverse reactions to fenproporex have been reported in individuals who took illegally imported diet pills [ ]. A 26-year-old US…

See also Beta 2 -adrenoceptor agonists General information Fenoterol is a β 2 -adrenoceptor agonist with higher intrinsic activity than salbutamol; it produces a greater maximal effect and has greater systemic effects at higher than conventional doses. It is available as a multidose pressurized aerosol 100 and 200 micrograms per puff and as a nebulizer solution, respules, 4 ml containing 1.25 mg. A formulation for injection…