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Common problems in pregnancy
Published in Anne Lee, Sally Inch, David Finnigan, Therapeutics in Pregnancy and Lactation, 2019
Similarly, there is a lack of data on the safety of commonly used cough medicines in pregnancy but these preparations are also of limited benefit. Opioid cough suppressants are best avoided, although short-term use is unlikely to present a risk to the fetus. There is no reason to believe that expectorants or demulcents are harmful, but they are of limited efficacy. Cough and throat lozenges are unlikely to have systemic effects and can be recommended.
Symptoms other than pain
Published in Rodger Charlton, Primary Palliative Care, 2018
Demulcents (medicines intended to soothe coughs by direct action on the throat) sometimes help by stimulating salivation and swallowing. Simple linctus is as good as any other. They need frequent use to be effective.
Drug Therapy in Laryngology and Head and Neck Surgery
Published in John C Watkinson, Raymond W Clarke, Louise Jayne Clark, Adam J Donne, R James A England, Hisham M Mehanna, Gerald William McGarry, Sean Carrie, Basic Sciences Endocrine Surgery Rhinology, 2018
There is no evidence that expectorants (ammonium chloride, ipecacuanha and squill) are effective at promoting expulsion of bronchial secretions. Their action is more placebo. Demulcent cough preparations may relieve a dry irritating cough by virtue of the fact that they contain a syrup or glycerol that has a soothing effect. Simple linctus (a sugar-free preparation is also available) is harmless and inexpensive.
Non-hormonal approaches for the treatment of vulvovaginal atrophy: the choice between hyaluronic acid and glycerin
Published in Gynecological Endocrinology, 2020
Glycerin serves many functions in the human body, as it is the main unit of triglycerides and phospholipids, which are in turn the main way of storing energy and is an essential component of cell membranes. Glycerin is a viscous liquid with a high boiling point. It is colorless, odorless, and hygroscopic. Glycerin can undergo selective transformations and is easily manipulated, since it is a small molecule and highly flexible. Glycerin is widely used in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries as an additive (plasticizer, thickener, emollient, demulcent, humectant, bodying agent, and lubricant) because of its physical properties [10]. The main property of glycerin is its moisturizing capacity, since it absorbs and retains water, together with its emollient capacity (softener). Glycerin is used mainly to hydrate the skin and for vaginal lubrication [10].
Bioactivation of herbal constituents: mechanisms and toxicological relevance
Published in Drug Metabolism Reviews, 2019
Glabridin (Figure 11(f )), an isoflavan purified from the dried roots of the licorice plant Glycyrrhiza glabra, has been shown to have antitumorigenic, antimicrobial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidative activity (Simmler et al. 2013). Licorice root extract, as well as its major flavonoid glabridin, are potent antioxidants against LDL oxidation in mice and humans, and are used as flavoring and sweating agents as demulcents and expectorants in the Western world and as antiallergic and anti-inflammatory agents in Asian countries (Rosenblat et al. 1999). Glabridin is a mechanism-based inhibitor of CYP3A4 and CYP2B6 leading to time- and concentration-dependent irreversible enzyme inactivation (Kent et al. 2002). Inactivation of CYP3A4 by glabridin led to heme destruction with the loss in CYP3A4-reduced CO spectrum and HPLC detectable heme at 405 nm, while inactivation of CYP2B6 was presumably due to modification of apoprotein. Mechanism-based inactivation of CYP enzymes was likely attributed to formation of electrophilic para- and/or ortho-quinone methides in incubations of glabridin with human liver microsomes (Huang et al. 2015) (Figure 11(f )). This was supported by the findings that no CYP MBI was observed with 2,4-dimethylglabridin, a close analog of glabridin with two methoxy groups at 2 and 4 positions, instead of hydroxy groups (Kent et al. 2002).
Exploiting drug delivery systems for oral route in the peptic ulcer disease treatment
Published in Journal of Drug Targeting, 2021
Larissa Spósito, Giovanna Capaldi Fortunato, Bruna Almeida Furquim de Camargo, Matheus Aparecido dos Santos Ramos, Maurício Palmeira Chaves de Souza, Andréia Bagliotti Meneguin, Taís Maria Bauab, Marlus Chorilli
Bismuth salts, including salicylate, have shown different actions in the gastrointestinal environment with protective effects on gastric mucosa, adhesion to ulcerative lesions and mucus, forming a demulcent protective film, promoting rapid relief of gastrointestinal irritation in addition to the connection with bile acids that promotes a coating effect, which is linked to its action on ulcerous lesions [47,48]. This drug is used as part of quadruple therapy to promote the healing of the PUD. In addition to its antimicrobial action, it also prevents the activity of pepsin, intensifies mucus secretion, and interacts with glycoproteins in the necrotic mucosa, involving and protecting the ulcer [49,50].