General information Bephenium hydroxynaphthoate is an antihelminthic drug that has been used in the treatment of hookworm infections due to Ancylostoma duodenale in a single dose [ ]. It is well tolerated, and reactions are confined to mild gastrointestinal disturbances (unpleasant taste, nausea, abdominal pain, and sometimes also vomiting and diarrhea), headache, and dizziness. It is reputed to be safe in pregnancy but is better avoided…

General information Benzyl alcohol is commonly used as a preservative in multidose injectable pharmaceutical formulations. For this purpose, concentrations in the range of 0.5–2.0% are used and the whole amount of benzyl alcohol injected is generally very well tolerated. Concentrations of 0.9% are used in Bacteriostatic Sodium Chlorine (USP), which is often used in the management of critically ill patients to flush intravascular catheters after the…

General information Benzydamine is 1-benzyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropoxy)- H -indazole, used for medical purposes as the hydrochloride. It has analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, and local anesthetic effects. In the past it has been especially used in the symptomatic treatment of edematous postoperative or traumatic swelling, non-specific inflammation of the upper respiratory tract, and inflammation of connective tissues and joints. Benzydamine is marketed in different countries as Difflam or Tantum verde.…

General information Benzoyl peroxide is an antimicrobial and keratolytic agent used in the treatment of acne; it is also added to some foods. It is a catalyst for cross-linking in the production of plastics and is occasionally used in acrylic resin systems (for example composite dental fillings, dental prostheses) in which it is formed during the cross-linking process. You’re Reading a Preview Become a Clinical Tree…

General information Benzoxonium is a quaternary ammonium compound with antibacterial, antiviral, and antimycotic activity. It can be used in topical disinfection, disinfection of surgical instruments, inhibition of plaque formation, and in veterinary products. 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 benzodiazepines typically share hypnotic, anxiolytic, myorelaxant, and anticonvulsant activity. Because their efficacy and tolerability are generally good, especially in the short term, they have been used extensively and are likely to continue to be used for many years to come. However, their less specific use in the medically or psychiatrically ill, and in healthy individuals experiencing the stresses of life or non-specific symptoms…

See also Anesthetics, local General information Benzocaine is a poorly soluble local anesthetic, an ester of para-aminobenzoic acid. It is used in many countries as a component of some free-sale formulations for topical use, for example in skin creams, as a dry powder for skin ulcers, as throat lozenges, and as teething formulations for young children. It is also used in aerosol sprays when anesthetizing the…

General information Benznidazole, a nitroimidazole, is used in the treatment of Trypanosoma cruzi infections and Chagas’ disease, and is recommended for use in urogenital trichomoniasis, all forms of amebiasis, giardiasis, and anaerobic infections. Its adverse effects are similar to those of metronidazole [ ]. Drowsiness, dizziness, headache, and ataxia occur occasionally. With prolonged and/or high doses, transient peripheral neuropathy and epileptiform seizures can be seen. Other…

See also individual agents The benzimidazoles are a group of compounds that include albendazole, carnidazole, fenbendazole, flubendazole, mebendazole, metronidazole, niridazole, satranidazole, triabendazole, tinidazole, and triclabendazole. General information The benzimidazoles are a group of compounds that include albendazole, flubendazole, mebendazole, niridazole, triabendazole, and triclabendazole. The broad-spectrum benzimidazoles have a wide spectrum of antihelminthic activity, killing larval and adult cestodes as well as intestinal nematodes, with generally low…

General information Quaternary ammonium compounds are surface-active agents. Some of them precipitate or denature proteins and destroy micro-organisms. The most important disinfectants in this group are cationic surface-active agents, such as benzalkonium chloride, benzethonium chloride and methylbenzethonium chloride, and cetylpyridinium chloride; the problems that they cause are similar. In an extensive report, the Expert Panel of the American College of Toxicology [ ] has concluded that…

See also Antidysrhythmic drugs General information Benzbromarone is a benzofuran derivative chemically related to amiodarone. It increases uric acid excretion by non-specifically inhibiting its tubular reabsorption. It is used in patients with venous disorders to prevent, retard, or reverse varicose degenerative changes in the vessel wall. Benzbromarone causes diarrhea (3–4% of patients), urate and oxalate stones, urinary sand, renal colic, and allergy in a small number…

See also Anticholinergic drugs General information Benzatropine (benztropine) and etybenzatropine (ethylbenzatropine) are anticholinergic drugs. They represent attempts to combine atropine-like and antihistaminic effects in single molecules. The dose is determined individually and varies from 0.5 to 6 mg/day for benzatropine and 6 to 30 mg/day for etybenzatropine. Although the adverse reactions are essentially those of the anticholinergic drugs, sedation is very likely to occur and these…

General information Quaternary ammonium compounds are surface-active agents. Some of them precipitate or denature proteins and destroy microorganisms. The most important disinfectants in this group are cationic surface-active agents, such as benzalkonium chloride, benzethonium chloride and methylbenzethonium chloride, and cetylpyridinium chloride; the problems that they cause are similar. Benzalkonium chloride is composed of a mixture of alkyldimethylbenzylammonium chlorides. The hydrophobic alkyl residues are paraffinic chains with…

See also Benzodiazepines General information Bentazepam is a benzodiazepine with properties similar to those of diazepam. 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 Since benoxaprofen, like zomepirac, provided an experience from which several lessons can be learnt, it deserves to be briefly reviewed, even though it was withdrawn 10 years ago. Some newer drugs may have some of its chemical or pharmacological characteristics and, consequently, its problems. Benoxaprofen was originally launched in 1980, with claims of a favorable adverse effects profile…

See also Acetylsalicylic acid General information Benorilate is an acetylsalicylic ester of paracetamol. It is slowly absorbed unchanged from the gastrointestinal tract but is rapidly hydrolysed to its components, aspirin and paracetamol. Thereafter its effects and kinetics are those of the two moieties. However, the delay in its metabolism reduces the incidence of direct gastric irritation, delays its onset of action, and prolongs its duration of…

See also Anorectic drugs , Fenfluramines . General information Benfluorex, which is structurally related to fenfluramine, was marketed in 1976 and has been used, mainly in France, as an appetite suppressant [ ] and to improve glycemic control and reduce insulin resistance in people with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes [ ], including those with obesity [ ]. However, in 2009 the European Medicines Agency recommended…

See also Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors General information Safety data derived from the controlled trials submitted in the benazepril New Drug Application for hypertension have been reviewed [ ]. In more than 100 trials involving 6000 patients with hypertension or congestive heart failure, the types and incidences of adverse effects were comparable with those of other ACE inhibitors. Organs and systems You’re Reading a Preview Become a…

See also Diuretics General information Bemetizide is chemically unrelated to the thiazides, but it shares many of their actions and adverse effects. 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 Bedaquiline is a diarylquinoline (previously referred to as TMC207 and before that R207910) that has many characteristics, both in vitro and in vivo, that make it a very attractive antituberculosis drug candidate [ ]. It is very potent in vitro against both multidrug-resistant and drug-susceptible strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis [ , ]. It inhibits mycobacterial F1F0 proton ATP [ ]. Bedaquiline was more active…