See also individual agents General information Antituberculosis drugs are classified as first-line and second-line.First-line drugs are ethambutol, isoniazid, pyrazinamide, and rifampicin; streptomycin, once first-line, is no longer used. Second-line drugs are capreomycin, clofazimine, cycloserine, ethionamide and propionamide, fluoroquinolones, kanamycin, para-aminosalicylic acid, rifabutin, and thiacetazone. As a rule, a regimen of two, three, or four of the five first-line antituberculosis drugs (isoniazid, rifampicin, pyrazinamide, ethambutol, and streptomycin)…

General information Antithymocyte globulin is a polyclonal antibody directed against T lymphocyte surface antigens. It is used as an induction immunosuppressant and for treatment of acute rejection after transplantation. Major adverse effects include sensitization, fever, nausea, anaphylactic reactions, and higher incidences of cytomegalovirus and Epstein–Barr virus infections. Drug studies Observational studies Antithymocyte globulin has recently been used to treat myelodysplastic syndrome. In a phase II trial…

General information Antithrombin III is a small glycoprotein anticoagulant that inactivates several enzymes of the coagulation system and accounts for most of the antithrombin activity in plasma and also inhibits other proteolytic enzymes. It circulates in the plasma and inactivates thrombin. Hereditary or acquired antithrombin III deficiency results in thromboembolism. Antithrombin III is used to treat congenital antithrombin deficiency [ ], which is of two types.…

General information Antimony is a brittle, bluish-white, metallic element (symbol Sb; atomic no 51). The symbol Sb comes from the Latin word stibium. Antimony is found in such minerals as dyscrasite, jamesonite, kermesite, pyrargyrite, stephanite, tetrahedrite, and zinkenite. The Arabic word for antimony stibnite or antimony trisulfate was kohl, from which the word alcohol ultimately derives [ ]. Antimonious ores were sometimes confused with lead ores,…

See also individual agents General information Histamine is both a local hormone and a neurotransmitter in the central nervous system. It is synthesized in neurons and mast cells. There are H 1 , H 2 , and H 3 receptors in the central nervous system, but they differ in their localization, biochemical machinery, functions, and affinities for histamine; they are particularly important in maintaining a state…

See also Antifungal azoles [for systemic use] General Information All the topically used azoles can cause local irritation, burning, and, if used intravaginally, burning, swelling, and discomfort during micturition. There is cross-sensitivity between econazole, enilconazole, miconazole, and probably all other phenethylimidazoles. Contact allergy to topical imidazoles is rare, considering how commonly they are used. The imidazole derivatives most often reported to be allergens are miconazole, econazole,…

See also individual agents; Antifungal azoles and other antifungal drugs for topical use General information The antifungal azoles are a class of synthetic compounds that have one or more azole rings and a more or less complex side chain attached to one of the nitrogen atoms. They are either imidazole or triazole derivatives. The imidazoles miconazole and ketoconazole were the first azoles developed for systemic treatment…

See also individual agents General information Some of the drugs that are used to treat epilepsy can be grouped into classes (carbamazepine and its analogue oxcarbazepine, barbiturates, hydantoins, benzodiazepines, and succinimides), while others (for example valproate, felbamate, gabapentin, levetiracetam, lamotrigine, tiagabine, topiramate, vigabatrin, and zonisamide) stand on their own. Individual drugs differ in their spectra of activity and in adverse effects profiles. For adverse effects that…

General information Classification Drugs used in dysrhythmias can be classified in different ways, the usual classification being according to their effects on the cardiac action potential [ ], as shown in Table 1 . Table 1 Electrophysiological classification of antidysrhythmic drugs Class I Ia Ib Ic Quinidine Lidocaine Flecainide Procainamide Aprindine Encainide Disopyramide Mexiletine Lorcainide Phenytoin Propafenone Tocainide (also has class II activity) Class II Beta-adrenoceptor…

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 individual agents General information There are many anticholinergic drugs, some structurally related to atropine, others quaternary ammonium compounds or tertiary amines ( Table 1 ). Although many of these products are claimed to have superior efficacy, specificity, or tolerance, few have ever been critically compared with others. The so-called freedom from adverse effects claimed for many of these compounds can often be traced to…

See also Monoclonal antibodies General information BG9588 is an anti-CD40L antibody. The CD40–CD40L interaction plays a significant role in the production of autoantibodies and tissue injury in lupus nephritis [ ]. 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 individual agents General information Drugs that are used in the treatment of angina pectoris include agents from the following groups: nitric oxide donors; beta-blockers; calcium channel blockers; potassium channel activators. Safety factors that govern the choice of antianginal drug Insights into the epidemiology, physiology, cellular biology, molecular biology, and treatment of ischemic heart disease have shown that there are three major modifiable risk factors…

See also individual agents General information Antiandrogens include steroids, such as cyproterone acetate, and non-steroidal agents, such as bicalutamide, flutamide, nilutamide, and abiraterone. They have different endocrine effects and therefore different adverse effects [ ]. Cyproterone acetate tends to result in a loss of sexual interest and erectile dysfunction, whereas most men experience this only moderately or not at all during non-steroidal drug treatment. The most…

See also Vaccines General information Inactivated anthrax vaccine is mainly used for protection against occupational anthrax exposure. A complete vaccine series consists of three 0.5-ml subcutaneous doses at 2-week intervals, followed by three additional doses 6, 12, and 18 months after the first dose. Mild local reactions occur in 30% of vaccinees, including local erythema and tenderness, which occurs within 24 hours and begins to subside…

See also Anthracyclines and Cytostatic and immunosuppressant drugs General information Liposomes are microscopic particles composed of a lipid bilayer membrane enclosing active drug in a central aqueous compartment [ ]. The aim of liposomal encapsulation of a drug is to alter its pharmacokinetics, thus improving efficacy and/or reducing toxicity [ ]. Current formulations of liposomal formulations of anthracyclines are as follows: pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (Caelyx/Doxil); liposomal…

See also Cytotoxic and immunosuppressant drugs General information Anthracyclines form a broad group of antitumor drugs within the group of cytotoxic antibiotics. The lead compounds were doxorubicin and daunorubicin; analogues include epirubicin, idarubicin, and aclarubicin. Mitoxantrone and pixantrone are related compounds of the anthracenedione family. Amsacrine is a related compound of the aminoacridine family. Liposomal forms of doxorubicin (Caelyx, Myocet) and daunorubicin (DaunoXome) are in use.…

See also Antihistamines General information Antazoline is a first-generation antihistamine. 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 Antacids are alkalis, such as aluminium hydroxide, magnesium salts (magnesium hydroxide and magnesium trisilicate), sodium bicarbonate, and calcium hydroxide. They are generally formulated in combinations (for example magnesium hydroxide + aluminium hydroxide, known as co-magaldrox), often with other components, such as simeticone (activated dimeticone, an anti-foaming agent), alginates (anti-reflux agents), and hydrotalcite (another type of antacid, the addition of which does not improve efficacy…

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