General information Bromhexine is taken orally or by aerosol and reduces sputum viscosity as measured ex vivo. Although it is still used empirically by some physicians, there have been no controlled studies showing a significant improvement in clinical status or lung function. Administration by inhalation aerosol or nasal spray produces a local expectorant/mucolytic effect [ ]. Inhaled bromhexine (Paxirasol) reduces the amount of sputum, but does…

See also Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) General information Bromfenac sodium (2-amino-3-(4-bromo-benzoyl)-benzeneacetic acid sodium salt sesquihydrate) has a safety profile apparently similar to that of other NSAIDs [ ]. It was approved by the FDA in 1997 for short-term management of acute pain, but was withdrawn by the manufacturers in 1998. Bromfenac sodium ophthalmic solution 0.1%, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) for ophthalmic use, has been reviewed…

See also Benzodiazepines General information Bromazepam, a moderately short-acting benzodiazepine (half-life about 12 hours), has been used in the treatment of anxiety states and has the usual effects of benzodiazepines, for example amnesia and depressed psychomotor performance, although it causes less depression than lorazepam [ ]. Organs and systems Nervous system The mechanism of rare extrapyramidal reactions to bromazepam is unexplained [ ]. You’re Reading a…

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General information Brimonidine is a highly selective potent α 2 -adrenoceptor agonist, which is distinguished from clonidine by a chemical modification that reduces its ability to cross the blood–brain barrier. Like apraclonidine, brimonidine has been used to treat glaucoma. However, unlike apraclonidine, it both reduces aqueous humor production and increases aqueous outflow through the uveoscleral pathway. The most common adverse reactions to brimonidine are dry mouth,…

General information Bretylium, originally introduced as a hypotensive agent but no longer used as such, has not been extensively used as an antidysrhythmic drug. Its clinical pharmacology, uses, efficacy, and adverse effects have been reviewed [ ]. Adverse reactions have reportedly caused the need for withdrawal in about 7% of patients [ ]. Organs and systems You’re Reading a Preview Become a Clinical Tree membership for…

General information Brequinar (DUP 785, NSC 368390) is a quinoline carboxylic acid derivative that inhibits pyrimidine synthesis by inhibiting dihydro-orotate dehydrogenase. It was originally developed as an anticancer drug, but has also been investigated for its immunosuppressant activity after transplantation. Some data suggest that that the immunosuppressant activity of brequinar may be partly due to inhibition of tyrosine phosphorylation in lymphocytes [ ]. Significant adverse effects…

General information The genera in the family of Brassicaceae ( Table 1 ) include various types of brassica (cabbage, broccoli, brussels sprouts, kale, kohlrabi, pak choi, rape, turnip), mustard, and cress. Table 1 Genera of Brassicaceae Alliaria (alliaria) Neobeckia (lake cress) Alyssum (madwort) Diplotaxis (wallrocket) Nerisyrenia (fan mustard) Anelsonia (anelsonia) Dithyrea (shield pod) Neslia (neslia) Aphragmus (aphragmus) Draba (draba) Parrya (parrya) Arabidopsis (rock cress) Dryopetalon (dryopetalon)…

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General information Botulinum toxins A and B, which are produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum , are used for the treatment of facial rhytides (for example, lateral orbital wrinkles, lower eyelid wrinkles, and labial lines), by producing weakness or paralysis of the associated muscles, and in the treatment of hyperhidrosis. The toxin binds with high affinity to peripheral cholinergic nerve endings, such as those at the…

See also Endothelin receptor antagonists General information Bosentan is an endothelin-A and endothelin-B receptor antagonist. It is effective in pulmonary arterial hypertension [ , ] and has been marketed for this indication. The studies showed an improvement in exercise capacity and dyspnea and an increased time to clinical worsening. Efficacy in pulmonary hypertension has also been reported in an open study with a selective endothelin-A receptor…

See also Anticholinergic drugs General information Bornaprine, a synthetic quaternary ammonium compound, has been used as an anticholinergic drug in treating Parkinson’s disease [ , ]. It has also been used to treat hyperhidrosis [ ]. Its adverse effects are those characteristic of the anticholinergic drugs. You’re Reading a Preview Become a Clinical Tree membership for Full access and enjoy Unlimited articles Become membership If you…

General information In the past, boric acid was falsely considered to be relatively non-toxic, and had an unwarranted reputation as a germicide. However, it is only bacteriostatic, even in a saturated aqueous solution, and can cause adverse reactions. Boric acid has often proved poisonous, either by ingestion or after local use. Cases from the world literature have been reviewed [ , ]. In 172 cases of…

See also Herbal medicines General information The genera in the family of Boraginaceae ( Table 1 ) include bluebells, borage, comfrey, and forget-me-nots. Table 1 Genera of Boraginaceae Alkanna (alkanna) Amsinckia (fiddleneck) Anchusa (bugloss) Antiphytum (saucerflower) Argusia (sea rosemary) Asperugo (German-madwort) Borago (borage) Bothriospermum (bothriospermum) Bourreria (strongbark) Brunnera (brunnera) Buglossoides (buglossoides) Carmona (scorpionbush) Cordia (cordia) Cryptantha (cryptantha) Cynoglossum (hound’s tongue) Dasynotus (whitethroat) Echium (vipersbugloss) Ehretia (ehretia)…

General information There are various makes of meters used for measuring the blood glucose concentration. On occasion, some have been found to give false readings. In early June 1998, the manufacturers of SureStep blood glucose meters (LifeScan) announced that they were going to replace some of the meters used by diabetics to test their blood sugar concentration because they were giving confusing error readings. SureStep home…

General information Among the various adverse reactions to blood donation, vasovagal syncope and convulsive reactions are of concern to collection centers, as they may alarm potential first-time donors. First-time donors have a higher frequency of these reactions (1.7%) than repeat donors (0.2%), and donors who have such reactions donate fewer times than those without reactions [ ]. Donors who react are generally of lower weight and…

General information The most common adverse effect of routine blood transfusion is an incompatibility reaction. Massive blood transfusions can cause other adverse effects [ ]. Human error resulting in blood group mismatching is the leading cause of transfusion-related fatalities [ , ]. Although there have been major achievements in transfusion medicine to improve the safety of blood and blood products, the risks of transfusion reactions and…

See also Cytotoxic and immunosuppressant drugs General information Bleomycin is a cytostatic drug that causes double-strand breaks in DNA. It has been used to treat Hodgkin’s disease and a variety of solid cancers. It is often used in combination with other anticancer drugs, for example in the regimens known as ABVD (doxorubicin + bleomycin + vinblastine + dacarbazine) and BEP (bleomycin + etoposide + cisplatin). It…

General information Bivalirudin is a 20-amino acid synthetic polypeptide analogue of hirudin. Once bound, bivalirudin is cleaved by thrombin, thereby reducing its antithrombotic activity. Bivalirudin has a half-life of 25 minutes after intravenous injection and is partially cleared renally; there is no antidote. It has been successfully used in patients with heparin-induced thrombocytopenia [ ]. You’re Reading a Preview Become a Clinical Tree membership for Full…

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