ENTRIES A–Z
Philip Winn in Dictionary of Biological Psychology, 2003
Any DRUG that has a SEDATIVE effect on the nervous system. The term does not denote a specific drug class, but rather applies to a range of drugs that have the ability to depress activity in the nervous system or to calm behaviour. Older usage of this term included the terms MINOR TRANQUILLIZER and MAJOR TRANQUILLIZER. Minor tranquilizers referred to drugs such as BARBITURATES and the BENZODIAZEPINE group, which have a relaxing, calming effect and in higher doses cause SLEEP. Major tranquilizers were the ANTIPSYCHOTIC drugs such as CHLORPROMAZINE, RESERPINE, and HALOPERIDOL. These drugs have the ability to reduce PSYCHOSIS and severe ANXIETY, without strong sedative effects. The terms are used less in more recent terms; minor tranquilizer has been replaced by the terms SEDATIVE-HYPNOTIC and ANXIOLYTIC, and major tranquilizer by the term NEUROLEPTIC.
Phytopharmacoepidemiology
Amritpal Singh Saroya in Contemporary Phytomedicines, 2017
This new methodology can make substantial contributions to our understanding of herbal drug markets. Not only can it improve the timely detection and the quantitation of adverse reactions to botanical medicines, it can also help us to recognize the beneficial effects of herbal preparations. Moreover, it can increase our social and economic knowledge about herbal drugs by correlating the utilization patterns of these preparations to socially relevant determinants and prices.Since such studies may require an internationally accepted herbal drug classification, a special set of herbal classification codes is proposed, which is fully compatible with the so-called ATC-classification (Anatomical, Therapeutic, Chemical classification). This latter system is endorsed by the Regional Office for Europe of the World Health Organization as the drug classification to be used in international pharmacoepidemiological studies (De Smet Peter 1993).
Antiemetics and Cancer Chemotherapy
John Kucharczyk, David J. Stewart, Alan D. Miller in Nausea and Vomiting: Recent Research and Clinical Advances, 2017
As noted earlier, the type of chemotherapy patients receive is another major variable since individual drugs differ so significantly in their emetogenic potential. While part of this variability is related to the drug class, dose and schedule are also important for individual agents. For instance, methotrexate is frequently ranked as nonemetogenic but can be very emetogenic when given in high dose. In one study of the efficacy of high dose dexamethasone in patients treated with cisplatin multivariate regression analysis revealed that only the total cisplatin dosage was a significant predicator of emesis.11 It has also been shown with cisplatin that changing the administration schedule from 1 to 8 h results in a significant decrease in emetic episodes.12 Other authors noted that the circadian timing of cisplatin administration had a greater effect upon the frequency of vomiting than whether an antiemetic was used. These investigators urged that future cisplatin trials specify the circadian stage of drug administration.13 Since the dose and schedule of emetogenic chemotherapy can make such a major difference in a patient’s response, these variables must be considered separately when analyzing the results of different antiemetic trials.8 Similarly, concurrent therapy, especially with potentially antiemetic drugs such as corticosteroids, must be avoided.9
Three-dimensional liver models: state of the art and their application for hepatotoxicity evaluation
Published in Critical Reviews in Toxicology, 2020
Xihui Zhang, Tianyan Jiang, Dandan Chen, Qi Wang, Leshuai W. Zhang
Adverse drug reaction (ADR) is the major cause of clinical trial failures and withdrawals of postmarked drugs. Drug-induced liver injury (DILI) is the one of the ADRs accounting for about 30% of the drug product withdrawn from the market (Stevens and Baker 2009). Accordingly, US FDA created a DILI Rank Dataset consisting of 1036 FDA approved drugs, which were further classified into four categories based on their DILI strength. The basis for drug classification came from the drug labeling documents, ADR reports, literatures and the logical relationship between the individual drug and the adverse effects (Chen et al. 2016). Therefore, it is emerging to evaluate and predict DILI during the early stages of the drug development, to reduce the time and cost on clinical trials of investigational drugs with DILI potential, which may ultimately be withdrawn in the postmarketing setting.
Ustekinumab for treating ulcerative colitis: an expert opinion
Published in Expert Opinion on Biological Therapy, 2020
Livia Biancone, Sandro Ardizzone, Alessandro Armuzzi, Fabiana Castiglione, Renata D’Incà, Silvio Danese, Marco Daperno, Paolo Gionchetti, Fernando Rizzello, Maria Lia Scribano, Maurizio Vecchi, Ambrogio Orlando
The main determinants for selecting the drug class are the extent and severity of the disease and previous treatments. Furthermore, the choice of treatments for patients with UC is also based on the presence of comorbidities and safety concerns. For patients with steroid-dependent disease or those who are refractory to steroids and/or immunomodulators, treatments with biologics should be considered [12]. Four biologic treatments have been approved in Europe for treating moderate-to-severe UC: three anti-TNF agents (infliximab, adalimumab, and golimumab) and one anti-α4β7 integrin (vedolizumab). Infliximab and adalimumab were the first biologic agents used to induce and maintain remission in moderate-to-severe UC. Infliximab is the only biologic drug used for the treatment of the acute severe UC (ASUC). Two randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies (ACT 1 and ACT 2) evaluated the efficacy of infliximab in moderate-to-severe UC. In both the induction and maintenance arms of these trials, there was a significantly greater rate of clinical response and remission in patients receiving infliximab compared with those receiving placebo [2].
Multi-Organ System Injury from Inhalant Abuse
Published in Prehospital Emergency Care, 2019
H. Evan Dingle, Saralyn R. Williams
In the field, all patients with suspected inhalant abuse should be placed on a cardiac monitor. Obtain a 12-lead ECG to evaluate for evidence of ischemia and arrhythmias. Oxygen should be applied to maintain oxygen saturation. Basic Life Support measures should be initiated in the patient who is pulseless. Identification of the primary rhythm will assist with the management of the patient. Unlike standard ACLS treatment, epinephrine and other catecholamines should be avoided due to the increased sensitivity of the myocardium to catecholamines that is induced by halogenated hydrocarbons (5). Instead, beta blockers are recommended as a treatment for ventricular dysrhythmias caused by inhalants (2,5). Although often not available in the prehospital setting, esmolol is a good choice due to its rapid onset of action and short half-life (8). Medical directors should educate paramedics on the deleterious effects of epinephrine in ventricular dysrhythmias from hydrocarbon exposure and should consider modifying cardiac arrest protocols to avoid epinephrine administration in these situations. Otherwise, patients presenting with cardiac arrest should receive standard ACLS treatment. Seizures and agitated delirium are treated in standard fashion with benzodiazepines being the drug class of choice. Prior to drug administration, however, hypoxia and hypoglycemia should always be ruled out as the cause. Prolonged QT interval should be excluded by ECG prior to administration of QT-prolonging drugs, including anti-emetics such as ondansetron.
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