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Biomedical subjects

J Buffum

Publications and source records attributed to J Buffum.

8 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1999

The effects of grapefruit juice on sertraline metabolism: an in vitro and in vivo study.

Grapefruit juice is an inhibitor of cytochrome P-450 3A4 (CYP3A4). This study was designed to assess the in vitro and in vivo effects of grapefruit juice on sertraline metabolism. The in vitro assay involved analysis of sertraline metabolism by CYP3A4 using CYP3A4-expressed human beta-lymphoblast microsomes. The in vivo study involved high-performance liquid chromatographic analysis of serum trough levels of sertraline and desmethylsertraline in 5 patients who had been taking their usual dose of sertraline for > or =6 weeks, followed by concurrent use of sertraline with grapefruit juice for 1 week. The in vitro assay demonstrated that grapefruit juice inhibited the formation of desmethylsertraline in a dose-dependent manner. In the in vivo study, mean serum sertraline levels were determined in 5 patients with a history of depression (4 males and 1 female). The mean age of the patients was 68.6 years, their mean weight was 69.6 kg, and their mean sertraline dosage was 55 mg/d. The results of the in vivo study appeared to be consistent with the in vitro findings, in that mean (+/- SD) serum sertraline trough levels increased significantly from 13.7+/-4.9 microg/L before to 20.2+/-4.4 microg/L (P = 0.047) after administration of grapefruit juice. Thus the in vitro study demonstrated that grapefruit juice can inhibit the metabolism of sertraline. A larger study is warranted to substantiate the clinical significance of the in vivo findings.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Pharmacosexology: the effects of drugs on sexual function a review.

The literature on the sexual side effects of drugs and chemicals has been reviewed. There are many substances which alter the human sociosexual response cycle either negatively, positively or both. Many of the drugs used therapeutically have been reported to have adverse effects on sexuality, and this must be taken into account when these drugs are used clinically. Many substances which are used for recreational purposes (or sometimes abused) also have profound effects on sexual response. Many of these substances are used in such a way that they can correct underlying sexual problems. Treatment of a drug abuser may well prove unsuccessful without consideration of preexistent sociosexual problems and concerns. From the dawn of recorded history, many substances have been used for the purpose of sexual enhancement. Some of these have known success and their reputations have been passed down through the millenia. The chapter has not yet been closed on aphrodisiacs, even though none have survived the rigors of scientific scrutiny. As long as humans place value on optimal sexual functioning, there will be a demand for sex-enhancing drugs. In order for the scientific and medical community to successfully meet these challenges, more effective and relevant study designs will have to be utilized in order to separate fact from fancy. The study of pharmacosexology is in its infancy, and in order for it to grow and contribute to the world body of knowledge, more researchers and clinicians must be trained in both pharmacology and sexology.

Androgen Antagonists↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A clinical guide to the diagnosis and treatment of heroin-related sexual dysfunction.

It is apparent that a significant degree of sexual concern exists in male and female heroin addicts in the predrug, drug and postdrug periods. The Sexual Concerns and Substance Abuse Project recommends that each opiate abuser entering in to treatment has a brief sex history taken and, if a primary or secondary sexual dysfunction is discovered, then additional evaluation is indicated. Furthermore, the Project stresses the importance of educating the patient to the physiological, as well as psychological, relationship between heroin-related sexual dysfunction and concomitant side effects. For example, in women chronically abusing high doses of heroin, one may not only see a reduction of sexual desire and performance, but also irregular menstrual cycles, and occasionally, amenorrhea, as a result of the depressive effects of the opiate on pituitary hormones. The woman may misinterpret this physiological effect and believe that such changes in her menstrual cycle are irreversible, and that she is sterile. Following the evaluation and patient education phase, the findings obtained from the evaluation of the drug cycle, as it relates to the sociosexual response cycle, should be incorporated into the overall treatment approach for counseling the opiate abuser. When a specific sexual dysfunction exists, particularly if it predates the heroin involvement, referral to a qualified sex therapist is often indicated, to work in co-therapy with the drug counselor and the referring physician. Greater awareness of heroin-related sexual dysfunction may help reduce the relapse rate back to heroin as well as improve the quality of the individual's life during the recovery period.

Adult↗