General information Efalizumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody that inhibits T cell activation by binding to lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1 (LFA-1), the alpha subunit of CD11a, and consequently inhibits T-cell activation [ ]. LFA-1 binds to intracellular adhesion molecule-1, an important step in the migration of T lymphocytes through vascular endothelium during inflammation. Efalizumab has been used in the treatment of chronic moderate to severe plaque-type psoriasis…

See also : Monoclonal antibodies General information Edrecolomab (17–1A antibody), a mouse monoclonal antibody, has been used in the adjuvant treatment of colorectal cancer. 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 Edetic acid is a metal chelator. The effect of an intravenous dose of 1 g of calcium disodium edetate on the urinary excretion on the elements aluminium, boron, barium, calcium, copper, iron, lead, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, silicon, sodium, strontium, sulphur, and zinc was measured in healthy volunteers. The ratio of the increase of urinary elimination was about two for iron, five for aluminium,…

General information The echinocandins are a class of semisynthetic antifungal lipopeptides that are structurally characterized by a cyclic hexapeptide core linked to a variably configured lipid side chain. The echinocandins act by non-competitive inhibition of the synthesis of 1,3-α- d -glucan, a major polysaccharide component of the cell wall of many pathogenic fungi, which plays a key role in cell division and cell growth and is…

General information Ecabet is an anti-ulcer agent that works by irreversibly inhibiting urease and ATPase in Helicobacter pylori under acidic conditions [ , ]. It may also impair bacterial adhesion to gastric epithelia [ ]. It has bactericidal activity against clarithromycin- and metronidazole-resistant strains of clinical isolates of Helicobacter pylori [ ]. It has been used in combination with other drugs to eradicate Helicobacter pylori ,…

See also Antihistamines General information Ebastine is a second-generation antihistamine with proven efficacy in the treatment of allergic disease [ ]. It is rapidly absorbed after oral administration, and undergoes extensive first-pass metabolism by CYP3A4 to its active carboxylic acid metabolite, carebastine. Organs and systems Cardiovascular Cardiac effects were reported from early experimental work using very high doses of ebastine, but they are not believed to…

See also Antiandrogens General information Dutasteride (Avodart®) inhibits both types 1 and 2 and is approved for the treatment of symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia in a dose of 0.5 mg It is about three times more potent than finasteride at inhibiting 5α-reductase type 2 and more than 100 times more potent at inhibiting type 1. Of 416 subjects, 11 withdrew because adverse events including mild to…

General information Duloxetine is an antidepressant that inhibits the reuptake of both serotonin (5HT) and noradrenaline [ ]. Drug studies Placebo-controlled studies In a placebo-controlled study of 1491 patients nausea was more frequent in those who took duloxetine (30% versus 7.1%) and weight loss was significantly greater; all of those who withdrew because of an adverse event were taking duloxetine (22%) [ ]. Systematic reviews In…

General information The genera in the family of Dryopteraceae ( Table 1 ) include various types of fern. Table 1 Genera of Dryopteraceae Arachniodes (holly fern) Athyrium (ladyfern) Bolbitis (creeping fern) Ctenitis (lacefern) Cyclopeltis (cyclopeltis) Cyrtomium (netvein hollyfern) Cystopteris (bladderfern) Deparia (false spleenwort) Diplazium (twinsorus fern) Dryopteris (wood fern) Elaphoglossum (tongue fern) Fadyenia (dotted fern) Gymnocarpium (oak fern) Hemidictyum (hemidictyum) Hypoderris (hypoderris) Lastreopsis (shield fern) Lomagramma…

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General information The protein C pathway serves as a natural defence mechanism against thrombosis. Patients with severe sepsis have a very low concentration of activated protein C compared with healthy individuals. Protein C is available as either a concentrate prepared from human plasma or as recombinant human activated protein C (drotrecogin alfa). The latter increased the risk of bleeding in patients with severe sepsis [ ].…

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See also Neuroleptic drugs General information Droperidol is a butyrophenone with actions similar to those of haloperidol. Of 20 volunteers who took droperidol 5 mg orally in orange juice, none had a neutral or pleasant experience [ ]. All reported restlessness, 17 felt sedated, and 11 reported dysphoria, the onset being relatively immediate; one subject broke down in tears within an hour of taking droperidol. Suicidal…

See also Antihistamines ; Dicycloverine General information Doxylamine is an antihistamine, a monoethanolamine derivative, with antimuscarinic and pronounced sedative effects. Organs and systems Nervous system Giddiness and drowsiness were reported in adults taking Vicks Medinite syrup (doxylamine + dextromethorphan + ephedrine + paracetamol) [ ]. You’re Reading a Preview Become a Clinical Tree membership for Full access and enjoy Unlimited articles Become membership If you are…

See also Tetracyclines General information Doxycycline and minocycline are more lipophilic tetracyclines. They are well absorbed after oral administration. Their half-lives are 16–18 hours. Their higher affinity for fatty tissues improves their effectiveness and changes their adverse effects profile. Local gastrointestinal irritation and disturbance of the intestinal bacterial flora occur less often than with the more hydrophilic drugs, which have to be given in higher oral…

See also Cytotoxic and immunosuppressant drugs General information Doxifluridine is a derivative of 5-fluorouracil. It has been used to treat a variety of solid tumors, including cancers of the breast, pancreas, stomach [ ], and large bowel. 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 Tricyclic antidepressants General information Doxepin is a tricyclic antidepressant that has also been used topically in the treatment of atopic dermatitis and other forms of eczematous dermatitis. It causes the adverse effects that one would expect, and systemic effects can result from absorption after topical administration. You’re Reading a Preview Become a Clinical Tree membership for Full access and enjoy Unlimited articles Become membership…

See also Alpha-adrenoceptor antagonists General information The α 1 -adrenoceptor antagonist doxazosin has similar adverse effects to those of prazosin. In a review of its clinical pharmacology and therapeutic uses, reports of tolerability included an update from previously unpublished pooled data on file [ ]. In 339 patients treated with doxazosin for hypertension compared with 336 treated with placebo, adverse effects were essentially the same as…

General information Generalized stimulation of the central nervous system has been observed with doxapram, particularly in large doses. Adverse reactions have included hyperactivity, tachycardia, increased deep tendon reflexes and muscle twitching, and laryngospasm. Raised blood pressure can also occur. Doxapram is contraindicated in epilepsy and other convulsive disorders and in hypertension. Doxapram has been used to treat post-anesthetic shivering; in one study it was effective […

General information Doxacurium chloride is a long-acting non-depolarizing neuromuscular blocking agent. It is a bisquaternary benzylisoquinolinium derivative (a diester). It is subject to minimal hydrolysis by plasma cholinesterase (at about 6% of the rate of hydrolysis of suxamethonium when incubated with purified pooled human plasma cholinesterase) [ ]. Antagonism by edrophonium (1 mg/kg) was considered inadequate in one study, whereas no difficulties were experienced with neostigmine…