PG Blazer » Pharmacology

Ten classes of antidiabetic drugs

Johnson Francis — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 01:55:41 +0000

Ten classes of antidiabetic drugs: 1. Biguanides: e.g. Metformin 2. Glinides: e.g. Repaglinide, Nateglinide 3. Sulfonylureas: e.g. Glibenclamide, Glimiperide 4. Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors: Acarbose, Voglibose 5. Thiazolidinediones: e.g. Rosiglitazone, Pioglitazone 6. Incretin mimetics (glucagon-like peptide-1 mimetics): Exenatide 7. Dipeptidyl peptidase-IV inhibitors (DPP-IV): Sitagliptin 8. Amylin analogs: e.g. Pramlintide 9. Bile acid sequestrants: e.g. Colesevelam 10. Insulin Related Articles ...

Alfuzosin

admin — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 16:24:31 +0000

It is an alpha 1 receptor antagonist Used in treatment of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) Related Articles ...

Lipotropic factor

admin — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 10:39:27 +0000

Substance which prevents excess accumulation of fat in the liver. e.g.: choline, lipocaic, inositol Related Articles ...

Liquorice – pharyngeal demulcent

admin — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 08:02:22 +0000

Root of Glycyrrhiza glabra. (from the Greek γλυκύρριζα or γλυκόριζα meaning “sweet root“)

-used as pharyngeal demulcent

-also used in confectionaries

Normal Saline

Johnson Francis — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 09:58:43 +0000

Normal Saline: 9 gram of NaCl in 1 litre of water Definition Related Articles ...

DMPS – Acronym

admin — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 03:39:09 +0000

DMPS – Dimercaptopropane sulfonate. Used as a chelating agent for treatment of heavy metal poisoning. Related Articles ...

Adverse effects of ciprofloxacin

Johnson Francis — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 02:35:39 +0000

Nausea, bad taste in mouth, vomiting Inability to concentrate, tremors, seizures Head ache, dizziness, rashes, photophobia Swelling of lips, tendonitis, tendon rupture Seizures are more likely if ciprofloxacin is combined with theophylline because theophylline increases the blood levels of ciprofloxacin. Related Articles ...

Rationale for multi-drug therapy in tuberculosis

Johnson Francis — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 02:32:08 +0000

If a single drug is given for the treatment of tuberculosis, there is increased chance of development of resistance to the drug. The incidence of resistant strain in an individual will be about 1 in 10^6 to 10^8. But an indiviual be infected with 10^10 to 10^12 organisms. So if a single drug is given, the number of remaining organisms will be too high for the immune system to remove them. The probability of an organizm resistance to the drug is independant of the probability to develop resistance to other drugs. Hence when two drugs are combined, the probability of resistance will be about 1 in 10^12 or less. The remaining organisms can be easily removed by the immune systems. This is the rationale for multi-drug therapy in tuberculosis.

Dimercaprol – British anti lewisite (BAL)

Johnson Francis — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 02:24:13 +0000

Dimercaprol, also known as British anti lewisite (BAL) is a chelating agent used in the treatment of heavy metal poising (those which act by inhibiting the SH group containing enzymes). It has two SH (sulfhydryl) groups which can bind to these atoms. It can form 1:1 or 2:1 complex with metals, 2:1 being more stable. It can be used used in the treatment of poisoning by arsenic, antimony, bismuth, copper and gold. Dimercaprol is used along with penicillamine in the treatment of lead poisoning and also in the treatment of Wilson’s disease.

Leuprolide and flutamide

Johnson Francis — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 02:17:01 +0000

Leuprolide is a superactive GnRH (Gonadotropin releasing hormone) agonist. It can be given with flutamide for prostate cancer. Gonadotropin secretion occurs due to pulsatile secretion of GnRH. But when a long acting GnRH agonist like leuprolide is given, initially there is an increased release of gonadotropins, but soon there is downregulation of GnRH receptors and the release is prevented. This action can be utilized in the treatment of prostatic cancer which is a hormone dependant tumour. But the initial increase in the release of gonadotropins can cause a flaring up of the tumour. This can be prevented by concurrent administration of an anti-androgen such as flutamide.