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Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors

General information Cholinesterase inhibitors increase parasympathetic nervous system (cholinergic) activity indirectly by inhibiting acetylcholinesterase, thereby preventing the breakdown of acetylcholine. They are only effective in the presence of acetylcholine. They are listed in Table 1 . Table 1 Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors Ambenonium Diisopropyl fluorophosphate (Diflos) Distigmine Donepezil Ecothiopate Edrophonium Eserine Methoxytacrine Metrifonate Neostigmine Physostigmine Prostigmine Pyridostigmine Rivastigmine Tacrine and 7-methoxytacrine The cholinesterase inhibitors are used in the…

Aceclofenac

See also Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) General information Despite claims that aceclofenac is a COX-2 selective inhibitor, experience shows that its adverse effects profile is similar to that of the non-selective NSAIDs. Organs and systems 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

Acecainide

See also Antidysrhythmic drugs General information Acecainide (N-acetylprocainamide) is the main metabolite of procainamide, and it has antidysrhythmic activity [ ]. However, in contrast to procainamide, which has Class Ib activity, the main action of acecainide is that of Class III. Apart from the lupus-like syndrome, the adverse effects of acecainide are as common as those of procainamide. The commonest affect the gastrointestinal tract and the…

Acebutolol

See also Beta-adrenoceptor antagonists General information Acebutolol is a beta-adrenoceptor antagonist with membrane-stabilizing activity that is sometimes cited as being cardioselective but has considerable effects on bronchioles and peripheral blood vessels. Organs and systems Respiratory Bronchiolitis obliterans has been attributed to acebutolol [ ]. You’re Reading a Preview Become a Clinical Tree membership for Full access and enjoy Unlimited articles Become membership If you are a…

Acanthaceae

See also Herbal medicines General information The family of acanthaceae includes about 250 genera, including Andrographis (false waterwillow), Ruellia (wild petunia), and Ancistranthus (desert honeysuckle). 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

Acamprosate

General information Acamprosate (calcium acetylhomotaurinate) has been postulated to act by restoring the alcohol-induced neurotransmission imbalance of inhibition–excitation inputs believed to underlie alcohol dependence [ , ]. The molecular structure of acamprosate explains its specificity toward the basic molecular mechanisms involved in the pathophysiology of alcohol dependence. A competitive interaction has been described between spermidine and acamprosate, suggesting a specific binding site for acamprosate on N-methyl-…

Abiraterone acetate

General information Abiraterone acetate is a potent inhibitor of cytochrome P450 C17 (CYPC17) [ ]. It is being used for the treatment of castration-resistant prostate cancer. It was first approved for use by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in April 2011 [ , ] and was approved for use in Europe by the European Medicine Agency (EMA) a few months later [ ]. Abiraterone selectively…

Abetimus

General information Abetimus is a selective immunomodulator for the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus. It induces tolerance in B lymphocytes directed against double-stranded DNA by cross-linking surface antibodies. It also reduces serum double-stranded DNA antibodies and splenic double-stranded DNA antibody-producing cells in BXSB mice, giving improved renal function and histopathology, as well as prolonged survival [ ]. In a phase-2, partly randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of…

Abciximab

See also Monoclonal antibodies General information Abciximab is a Fab fragment of the chimeric human-murine monoclonal antibody 7E3, which binds to the platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor and inhibits platelet aggregation [ ]. Abciximab is used for prevention of cardiac ischemic events in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention and to prevent myocardial infarction in patients with unstable angina who do not respond to conventional treatment. It has…

Abacavir

See also Nucleoside analogue reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) General information Abacavir is a guanidine analogue that inhibits HIV reverse transcriptase. In vitro, its potency is similar to that of zidovudine, protease inhibitors, and dual nucleoside combinations. It reduces viral load and increases the CD4 count in HIV-infected patients. Viral resistance is not rapidly selected for, but cross-resistance has been shown to other analogues of cytosine and…

How to use this book

In a departure from the structure of previous editions of this encyclopedia, the 15th edition of Meyler ' s Side Effects of Drugs was organized as individual drug monographs in alphabetical order. This method has been continued in this edition, the 16th. In many cases a general monograph (e.g. antihistamines) is complemented by monographs about specific drugs (e.g. acrivastine, antazoline, etc.); in that case a cross-reference…