General information Fenoldopam is a selective dopamine D 1 receptor agonist, which has been used in the management of acute severe hypertension and heart failure [ ], and to preserve renal function in various circumstances, such as after cardiac surgery [ , ]. Because it increases glomerular infiltration rate by renal vasodilatation, it has also been used in an attempt to reduce the risk of contrast-induced…

See also Anorectic drugs ; Benfluorex ; Phentermine General information Although it resembles amfetamine structurally, the appetite suppressant fenfluramine does not produce central nervous system stimulation in therapeutic doses. Dexfenfluramine, the dextrorotatory isomer, was previously widely marketed as an appetite suppressant in the management of obesity. It appears to be a pure serotonin receptor agonist without the dopaminergic and sympathetic activity of the racemic mixture. Fenfluramine,…

See also Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) General information Fenclofenac was withdrawn in the UK after its licence was not renewed because of its adverse drug reactions profile [ ]. Data from the UK's Committee on Safety of Medicines included records of seven deaths and 895 adverse reactions in patients taking fenclofenac. Shortly afterwards it was withdrawn in all other countries in which it had been marketed.…

See also Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) General information The profile of fenbufen is similar to the profiles of other NSAIDs [ ]. The dropout rate due to adverse reactions was 12–22% in different studies. Organs and systems Respiratory Fenbufen can cause a pulmonary alveolitis with rash, dry cough, breathlessness, fever, hypoxia, sometimes eosinophilia, and bilateral alveolar shadowing or infiltrates, which regress after withdrawal [ ]. You’re…

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See also Calcium channel blockers General information Felodipine is a dihydropyridine derivative with diuretic properties [ ]. Its diuretic properties are not unique but are shared by other dihydropyridines. Vasodilatory adverse reactions include flushing, headache, and tachycardia [ , ]. Reduced arterial oxygen saturation has been seen in patients given intravenous felodipine for pulmonary hypertension [ , ]. Along with amlodipine, but unlike other calcium channel…

See also Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) General information Felbinac, an active metabolite of fenbufen, is used as a gel for topical treatment and has been thought to be equivalent to ibuprofen [ ]. 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 Antiepileptic drugs General information Felbamate is a broad-spectrum antiepileptic drug, whose use has been drastically curtailed owing to the risks of aplastic anemia and hepatotoxicity. Benefit to harm balance The Quality Standards Subcommittee of the American Academy of Neurology and the American Epilepsy Society [ ] has reviewed efficacy and safety data to establish recommendations for felbamate use in the light of the risk…

General information Originally claimed, from animal experiments, to be of rapid onset, short duration, and free of important adverse effects and reactions, this non-depolarizing relaxant has been found to be less satisfactory in man. The usual doses are 0.5–0.75 mg/kg, although 1 mg/kg is sometimes advocated for fast intubation (within 1–2 minutes). The duration of action is similar in man to that of d -tubocurarine and…

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See also Histamine H 2 receptor antagonists General information Famotidine is a histamine H 2 receptor antagonist. It does not affect drug metabolism and it has been claimed to be free of the antiandrogenic effect of cimetidine; however in one woman who accidentally took double doses of the drug for some months it did cause hyperprolactinemia and breast engorgement [ ]. In other ways it bears…

General information Famciclovir is an oral prodrug of penciclovir, a selective antiviral drug with activity against Varicella zoster virus, Herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2, and Epstein–Barr virus, as well as human hepatitis B virus. After oral administration, famciclovir is well absorbed (systemic availability 77%), with little intersubject variability, and is rapidly converted to penciclovir. This compares favorably with aciclovir, the absorption of which is…

See also individual agents General information The direct inhibitors of factor Xa are short polysaccharides [ ]. They include rivaroxaban [BAY 59-7939; 5-chloro-N-(({(5S)-2-oxo-3-(4-(3-oxomorpholin-4-yl)phenyl)-1,3-oxazolidin-5-yl}methyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide)], apixaban, edoxaban, otamixaban, and DX-9065 [(+)-2S-2-[4-[[(3S)-1-acetimidoyl-3-pyrrolidinyl]oxy]phenyl]-3-(7-amidino-2-naphthyl) propanoic acid hydrochloride pentahydrate]. Direct inhibitors of factor Xa bind to factor Xa with 1:1 stoichiometry and block the interaction of factor Xa with its substrates. Their action is reversible and they not only inhibit free factor…

See also Coagulation proteins General information Factor IX is used as substitution therapy in patients with hemophilia B. Although the half-lives of recombinant and plasma factor IX products are comparable, the in vivo recovery of recombinant factor IX is 28% lower than a highly purified plasma-derived product. To treat hemorrhage the dosage of recombinant factor IX needs to be 20% higher than plasma-derived products to increase…

See also Coagulation proteins General information Lyophilized factor VIII has been used as substitution therapy in patients with hemophilia A. Most, but not all, recombinant factor VIII (recFVIII) is structurally and immunologically similar to plasma-derived factor VIII, and it has been well tolerated by patients in clinical trials. A major concern about recombinant factor VIII has been the occurrence inhibitors [ ]. However, there is evidence…

See also Coagulation proteins General information Factor VII is the most sensitive of the vitamin K-dependent clotting factors. The mode of action is tissue factor-dependent activation of factors Xa and IXa on the surfaces of activated platelets [ ]. Factor Xa leads to thrombin generation and hemostasis, by converting fibrinogen to fibrin. This process is limited to the site of injury, since exposure of tissue factor…

General information The genera in the family of Fabaceae ( Table 1 ; formerly Leguminosae) include broom, licorice, senna, tamarind, and a variety of pulses, such as fava beans, lentil, peas, and vetches. Table 1 Genera of Fabaceae Abrus (abrus) Ebenopsis (Texas ebony) Parkinsonia (paloverde) Acacia (acacia) Entada (callingcard vine) Parkia (parkia) Adenanthera (bead tree) Enterolobium (enterolobium) Parryella (parryella) Aeschynomene (joint vetch) Eriosema (sand pea) Pediomelum…

General information Ezetimibe is a selective potent inhibitor of the intestinal absorption of dietary and biliary cholesterol. A total of 432 patients were included in a pooled analysis of two phase-II studies, both lasting for 12 weeks; ezetimibe was well tolerated, with an adverse events profile similar to that of placebo [ ]. In 668 patients who took ezetimibe with simvastatin, the adverse reactions were similar…

General information Eyedrops and ointments are specialized pharmaceutical formulations intended to produce therapeutic concentrations of the active drug in ocular structures; a lower dose can be used than would be necessary to obtain the same effect by systemic administration. They can cause local adverse effects in the eye due either to the active ingredient or to excipients in the liquid or solid vehicle. The excipients included…

General information Exenatide (synthetic exendin-4, from the saliva from a lizard) is an incretin mimetic [ ]. Incretins are compounds that increase insulin secretion from the pancreas in a glucose-dependent manner; they are therefore potential therapies for the treatment of diabetes mellitus. Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1; 30 amino acids) is a naturally occurring incretin. It is largely produced in the distal ileum and colon in response to…