Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “DRUGS”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 235 records · Page 13Linked to original sources
PubMed2000

Beta-blocker supplementation of standard drug treatment for schizophrenia.

BACKGROUND: Many people with schizophrenia or similar severe mental disorders do not achieve a satisfactory treatment response with ordinary antipsychotic drug treatment. In these cases, various add-on medications are used, among them beta-adrenergic receptor antagonists (beta-blockers). OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the clinical effectiveness of beta-blockers as an adjunct to antipsychotic medication in schizophrenia or similar severe mental disorders. SEARCH STRATEGY: Publications in all languages were searched from the following databases: Biological Abstracts, CENTRAL of The Cochrane Library, Cochrane Schizophrenia Group's Specialised Register, EMBASE, LILACS, MEDLINE, and PsycLIT. The reference section of papers included were screened. SELECTION CRITERIA: All randomised controlled trials comparing beta-blockers with placebo as an adjunct to conventional antipsychotic medication for those with schizophrenia. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Studies were selected and then data extracted, independently, by at least two reviewers. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals of homogeneous dichotomous data were calculated with the Peto method. A random effects model was used for heterogeneous dichotomous data. Weighted mean differences were calculated for continuous data. MAIN RESULTS: Currently the review includes five studies but data are poorly presented and do not evidence any effect of beta-blockers as an adjunct to conventional antipsychotic medication. REVIEWER'S CONCLUSIONS: At present beta-blockers cannot be recommended in the treatment of schizophrenia. Any possible benefit of adjunctive beta-blockers is obscured by the poor reporting of the included studies. Existing data on beta-blockers as adjunctive medication to antipsychotics for those with schizophrenia should be collected and re-analysed in order to allow confident conclusions about the effect of this treatment or the need for further trials.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗
PubMed1993

[Incidence of drug side effects by symptoms and syndromes. From the experiences of the Comprehensive Hospital Drug Monitoring and the Swiss Drug Side Effect Center. As an example: allergic and pseudo-allergic reactions with mild analgesics and NSAID].

From 1974 to 1989, 37,392 patients were admitted to the divisions of general internal medicine of the CHDM hospitals. 19,082 of them were treated with a minor analgesic or an NSAID. In 95 of the exposed patients, an allergic or a pseudoallergic reaction to one or two of these drugs was observed. From 1981 to 1990, general practitioners, hospitals and the pharmaceutical industry reported to SANZ 158 individual cases with comparable reactions to 175 exposures of the same kind. Of the 15 different syndromes and symptoms registered in both institutions, most were reactions of the skin, mainly the usual maculopapular exanthemas (rash), urticaria and angioedema. In the CHDM, allergic or pseudoallergic reactions were observed in 0.23% of patients exposed to minor analgesics (including ASA preparations on a daily dose up to 1.0 g and pyrazolones, mainly metamizole, propyphenazone) and in 0.81% of patients exposed to NSAIDs (including the pyrazolone oxyphenbutazone). In the experience of the Comprehensive Hospital Drug Monitoring in Berne and St. Gallen (CHDM) and the Spontaneous Adverse Drug Reactions Center of Switzerland (SANZ).

Adverse Drug Reaction Reporting Systems↗
PubMed2004

[Drug Addiction Self-Help Recovery scale (DASH-scale): an approach to the measurement of recovery from drug addiction in self-help program among drug addicts].

The purpose of the study was to develop a scale for measuring the recovery in self-help program for drug addicts. Our study sites were fourteen self-help groups for drug addicts called "DARC: Drug Addiction Rehabilitation Center". DARC activities were based on Narcotics Anonymous types of self-help program. The 25-items DASH-scale questionnaire was developed using data, which were obtained through in-depth interview among DARC staff. A cross-sectional study among recovering addicts participating in "DARC" activities was implemented from Jan 2004 to Feb 2004. 164 subjects were responded to our questionnaire. Factor analysis was carried out and items with weaker or split loadings were removed. Factor analysis of DASH-scale results produced a surprisingly clean four-factor solution. 19-items were left to form the final DASH-scale; regular life-style (6 items), acceptance of drug addiction (5 items), sympathy with member (5 items), reborn (3 items). The internal consistency (Cronbach's Alpha) of these scales was very high (0.87). Low but significant concurrent correlations were observed between the DASH-scale and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (0.22), Purpose in Life Test (0.35). Discriminant validity of the DASH-scale was supported by significant increase with exposed period of self-help program. Evidence supports the DASH-scale was possible to measure recovery in self-help program.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The metabolism of drugs in isolated rat hepatocytes. A comparison with in vivo drug metabolism and drug metabolism in subcellular liver fractions.

The metabolism of drugs in isolated rat hepatocytes has been investigated. Drugs which are metabolized by aromatic hydrolation, aliphatic hydroylation, N-demethylation, or glucuronidation have been used as substrates. With some substrates the rate of metabolism in isolated hepatocytes compares with that in hepatic 900g supernatant fraction or microsomes, but other substrates are metabolized at a slower rate in isolated hepatocytes. For example, the rate of butamoxane hydroxylation in isolated hepatocytes is slower than that in microsomes. However, the rate of hydroxylation is hepatocytes is identical to that in perfused liver. The metabolism of drugs in isolated hepatocytes correlates with in vivo drug metabolism better than does metabolism in the hepatic 9000g supernatant fraction or microsomes.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

A program for the optimum design of pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic, drug metabolism and drug-drug interaction models.

Planning any experiment includes issues such as how many samples are to be taken and their location given some predictor variable. Often a model is used to explain these data; hence including this formally in the design will be beneficial for any subsequent parameter estimation and modelling. A number of criteria for model oriented experiments, which maximise the information content of the collected data are available. In this paper we present a program, Optdes, to investigate the optimal design of pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic, drug metabolism and drug-drug interaction models. Using the developed software the location of either a predetermined number of design points (exact designs) or together with the proportion of samples at each point (continuous designs) can be determined. Local as well as Bayesian designs can be optimised by either D- or A-optimality criteria. Although often the optimal design cannot be applied for practical reasons, alternative designs can be readily evaluated.

Algorithms↗
PubMed2005

Your drug, my drug, or our drugs: how aggressive should we be with antihypertensive therapy?

In the prevention of hypertensive complications, especially stroke and kidney disease, "lower is better" because for each decrease of 20 mm Hg systolic or 10 mm Hg diastolic pressure in the population, cardiovascular risk is halved. Ideally, the goal for each patient should be to reach the lowest blood pressure that is well tolerated, a value that may be well below the arbitrary threshold value of 140/90 mm Hg. For the majority of "uncomplicated hypertensives," the question of single-drug therapy is essentially moot, because more than one agent is almost always required to optimally control blood pressure. In individuals who already have heart or kidney disease, there are compelling indications for the use of drugs that block the renin-angiotensin system, but the large outcome studies that spawned these recommendations are themselves combination trials. Thus, in virtually all patients, more than one drug is indicated. The best combinations take advantage of long durations of action and complementary mechanisms of action of the component and are not only able to effectively lower blood pressure, but also to favorably affect the natural history of hypertensive complications. Regimens-including fixed-dose combination products-that combine a thiazide diuretic or calcium antagonist with an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker are most efficient. In summary, why would an astute clinician (or informed patient) be satisfied with the relatively limited effects of any single class of antihypertensive agents when better overall protection is possible?

Antihypertensive Agents↗
PubMed2006

Predictive power of an in vitro system to assess drug interactions of an antimuscarinic medication: a comparison of in vitro and in vivo drug-drug interaction studies of trospium chloride with digoxin.

The authors studied a potential drug-drug interaction via findings from in vitro and in vivo studies, to assess whether the in vitro system was predictive of in vivo clinical pharmacokinetic outcomes. An in vitro experiment and a clinical study were performed to assess the potential for interaction. The effect of trospium chloride on human P-glycoprotein-mediated transport of [3H]-digoxin was determined in vitro. A randomized, crossover clinical trial in 40 subjects was performed to evaluate the effect of trospium on the pharmacokinetics of digoxin in vivo. The findings from the studies were then compared. The in vitro findings in this study were corroborated by the clinical study via assessment of inhibition and impact on pharmacokinetic parameters. The in vitro system for assessment of a potential interaction of 2 drugs excreted primarily through the kidney was predictive of the pharmacokinetic outcomes obtained from a clinical setting.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗
PubMed2001

[Antifungal drugs in the treatment of systemic candidiasis: susceptibility to antifungal drugs, drug resistance, pharmacological data].

The available antifungal agents are amphotericin B (conventional or lipid formulation), flucytosin and azole derivatives (ketoconazole, fluconazole, itraconazole). The main target of these molecules are a specific compound of fungal membrane, ergosterol. Determination of the fungal sensitivity to antifungal drugs is difficult and no consensus has been achieved so far. Minimal inhibitory concentrations are poor predictors of clinical success or failure. A good correlation between in vitro and in vivo results has been observed only in patients with oropharyngeal candidiasis associated with HIV infection. Combinations of antifungal drugs are currently under study. The role of hemopoietic growth factors (G-CSF, GM-CSF) as an adjuvant has not been fully established. New antifungal drugs (triazole derivatives, echinocandins) should be available within months.

Antifungal Agents↗
PubMed2002

Efficacy of Adderall and methylphenidate in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: a drug-placebo and drug-drug response curve analysis of a naturalistic study.

Stimulant medication has, for many years, been the pharmacological treatment of choice for children and adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Recently, several studies have documented the efficacy of a new stimulant, Adderall. Although these initial studies provide useful information for clinicians treating ADHD children, their method of data presentation has provided limited information about the clinical significance of drug effects. Thus, to address the issue of clinical significance, we completed drug-placebo response curve analyses of a blinded, placebo-controlled study of Adderall and methylphenidate (MPH). Our results show that the efficacy of Adderall and MPH to improve functioning is seen throughout the full range of improvement scores. Both drugs prevent worsening and, for a majority of patients, lead to improvements that are well into the normal range. The analyses also highlight an important subgroup of placebo responders, which suggests that future research should focus on how to predict robust placebo response in ADHD patients.

Amphetamines↗
PubMed1997

Comparison of action of the anti-neoplastic drug lonidamine on drug-sensitive and drug-resistant human breast cancer cells: 31P and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance studies.

Lonidamine (LND) is a relatively new anti-cancer drug, and several clinical trials have indicated that it may be effective in combinations with other therapeutic modalities. LND is classified within the metabolic inhibitor agents. Multidrug resistance (MDR) phenomenon is often associated with increased energy requirements, and enhanced glycolysis rate. These studies were performed to delineate the mechanism of action of LND on MDR human breast cancer cells, and to investigate whether LND as a single agent, or in combination with another anti-metabolism drug, 2-deoxyglucose (2-DG), may be useful against MDR tumors. The effects of LND on intact perfused drug-sensitive (WT) and 33-fold resistant to Adriamycin (Adr) MCF-7 cells, embedded in alginate micro capsules, were continuously monitored by 31P and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. 31P NMR studies showed that LND induced intracellular acidification and depletion of NTP in both WT and Adr cells. However, pH and NTP levels decreased less in the Adr cells than in the WT cells (p < 0.05 for both parameters). 13C NMR demonstrated that LND inhibited lactate transport, and lactate signals were elevated in both cell lines. However, the intracellular lactate levels increased to a greater extent in the WT than in the Adr cells (p < 0.05). There were major differences in the effects of LND on metabolism between sensitive and resistant cells. While LND enhanced glucose uptake in the WT cells, and its administration was followed by continuous increase of lactate signal, both processes were not affected by LND in the Adr cells. 2-DG is a glucose analogue that inhibits both cellular uptake and utilization of glucose, leading to cell starvation. Combined treatment with LND and 2-DG yielded at best additive, but not synergistic, cellular toxicity, and the metabolic effects of LND were attenuated by 2-DG. These results showed that the principal mechanism of action of LND is inhibition of lactate transport leading to intracellular lactate accumulation and acidification in both WT and Adr cells. The Adr cells were only 2-fold resistant to LND (compared to the WT cells), and since cellular uptake of alkaloid chemotherapy is improved in acidic environment, LND may have a role in the treatment protocols of MDR tumors, especially when given as the initial means for induction of intracellular acidification.

Antineoplastic Agents↗
PubMed2004

Quantitative evaluation of the drug-drug interactions between methotrexate and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in the renal uptake process based on the contribution of organic anion transporters and reduced folate carrier.

The present study examined the possible role of transporters in the drug-drug interactions between methotrexate (MTX) and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in the renal uptake process of MTX. MTX is recognized by reduced folate carrier (RFC-1) and rat organic anion transporters (rOat1 and rOat3) as a substrate. Uptake of MTX by kidney slices was saturable and inhibited potently by dibromosulfophthalein. Folate and benzylpenicillin (PCG) inhibited the uptake by 30 to 40% and 40 to 50% of the total saturable uptake of MTX by kidney slices, respectively, whereas the effect of p-aminohippurate (PAH) was minimal at the concentration selective for rOat1. In contrast, the uptake of 5-methyltetrahydrofolate by the kidney slices was inhibited by MTX, folate, and dibromosulfophthalein, but not by PAH and PCG. These results suggest that rOat3 and RFC-1 are almost equally involved in the uptake of MTX by the kidney slices, whereas RFC-1 is responsible for the renal uptake of 5-methyltetrahydrofolate. NSAIDs, except salicylate, were potent inhibitors of rOat3 (K(i) of 1.3-19 microM), but weak inhibitors of RFC-1 (K(i) of 70-310 microM). This is in a good agreement with the biphasic inhibition profiles of NSAIDs for the uptake of MTX by kidney slices. These results suggest that the renal uptake of MTX is not so greatly affected by NSAIDs as expected from the inhibition of rOat3-mediated transport.

Animals↗
PubMed1975

Animal model for determining the no-effect level of an antimicrobial drug on drug resistance in the lactose-fermenting enteric flora.

Mature beagles were fed a ground-meal diet containing 0, 2, or 10 mug of oxytetracycline per g for 44 days. The 10-mug/g diet resulted in a shift from a predominantly drug-susceptible population of enteric lactose-fermenting organisms to a multiply antibiotic-resistant population which peaked at 78% resistant organisms. Since a shift to drug-resistant organisms did not occur in the group fed 2 mug/g, the level of oxytetracycline that results in increased incidence of antibiotic resistance lies between 2 and 10 mug/g in this dog model. Rats and hamsters fed diets containing oxytetracycline (10 mug/g or greater) or dihydrostreptomycin (10 mug/g), and provided suspensions of drug-susceptible Escherichia coli, did not develop a population of antibiotic-resistant organisms.

Animals↗
PubMed1977

Drug resistance and plasmid mediated transfer of drug resistance in Escherichia coli isolated from various districts of the human organism. A possible relationship with the antimicrobial drug concentrations during therapy.

The study of the prevalence of drug resistances and of the frequency of R factors among resistant strains, in E. coli isolated respectively from the respiratory, intestinal and urinary tracts of patients, during 1976, has shown that the frequency of drug resistances is highest among E. coli strains isolated from the respiratory tract and lowest among the E. coli strains isolated from urines. The frequency of R factors, among resistant strains, follows an exactly opposite distribution. This behaviour could be related to the gradient of antimicrobial drug concentrations achieved in the various compartments during ordinary antimicrobial therapy.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed1965

Clinically important examples of drug interaction. Psychotropic drugs (1). Interaction between centrally acting drugs in man: some general considerations.

As a biological phenomenon the interaction between drugs may be viewed in ;explanatory' or ;empirical' terms. In clinical psychopharmacology the former is rarely possible: two examples are cited, one concerning amphetamine and reserpine, the other desmethyl-imipramine and tetrabenazine. Among centrally acting substances, empirical studies of the interaction between alcohol and the barbiturates have been pursued intensively by several methods in clinic and laboratory. Both general considerations and recent work on the effects of amphetamine-barbiturate combinations suggest caution in the medical use of mixtures of psychotropic drugs. Adverse reactions caused by interaction between psychotropic drugs and other substances have still to be studied systematically as a potential hazard.

Amphetamine↗
PubMed1997

[Therapy recommendations of the Drug Committee of the German Medical Association--an instrument for quality assurance in drug therapy. Drug Committee of the German Medical Association, Cologne].

The growing flood of information on drug therapy, which is increasingly overwhelming the individual physician, and the simultaneous demand for high-quality, individual therapy, call for guidelines recommending appropriate therapeutic measures for a given indication. The Drug Commission of the German Medical Profession, a scientific committee of the German Medical Association, has set itself the task of providing assistance in this context by elaborating scientifically-based, practice-oriented therapeutic guidelines. These guidelines were drawn up in accordance with a defined procedure and represent the consensus reached between the appropriate independent experts, the general practitioners and the members of the executive committee of the Drug Commission. This review presents the background, aims, procedures and criteria for assessment involved in the elaboration of the guidelines and attempts to define the position of the therapeutic guidelines in comparison to similar activities of other institutions in Germany.

Drug Therapy↗
PubMed2005

Use of compressed gas precipitation to enhance the dissolution behavior of a poorly water-soluble drug: generation of drug microparticles and drug-polymer solid dispersions.

The classical anticonvulsant drug phenytoin (5,5-diphenyl hydantoin, C(15)H(12)N(2)O(2)) has been used as a model compound to investigate the possibility of enhancing the dissolution rate of poorly water-soluble drugs using dense gas antisolvent techniques. In a first step, microcrystals of neat phenytoin have been generated using the gas antisolvent (GAS) and precipitation with compressed antisolvent (PCA) processes, thereby assessing process performances and elucidating similarities and differences between the two techniques. In a second step, the PCA process has been used to generate solid dispersions of phenytoin in the hydrophilic polymer poly(vinyl-pyrrolidone)-K30 (PVP). In vitro dissolution results reveal a substantially better performance of the PCA-processed co-formulations compared to unprocessed phenytoin and to GAS- and PCA-precipitates of neat drug crystals. A comparison of the product quality of phenytoin-PVP co-formulations with solid dispersions obtained by spray drying convincingly underlines the potential of dense gas antisolvent techniques for the production of pharmaceutical formulations with enhanced oral bioavailability.

Chemical Precipitation↗
PubMed1999

Synthesis of qualitative research on drug use in the European Union: report on an EMCDDA project. European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction.

This paper is a synthesis of the information in the report Inventory, Bibliography and Synthesis of Qualitative Research in the European Union which was co-ordinated for the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction, Lisbon, Portugal, by the National Addiction Centre, London, UK. It is based on the work of a network of qualitative researchers from the European Union. The report includes detailed information from each member state on current qualitative projects, relevant publications from the last 10 years and a directory of those researchers active in this area. The paper introduces the project, outlines its future direction and discusses what can be defined as 'qualitative research'. Historical developments and the role of qualitative methodology in relation to research into drug use are examined. A summary of the project's findings is presented, and the relevance of qualitative research for policy-making is discussed. Finally, the methodology used to collect data for the project is described.

Crime↗
PubMed1995

The drug-of-choice phenomenon psychological differences among drug users who preferred different drugs.

The Eysenck Personality Questionnaire, the Sensation Seeking Scale, and the Brief Symptom Inventory were administered to 125 recovering drug users with three or more months abstinent from drugs. Subjects were divided according to drug preference: opiates, stimulants, marijuana, alcohol, and a polydrug preference. Opiate users were significantly higher in Susceptibility to Boredom. Alcohol misusers compared to a combined stimulant, opiate, and polydrug group were significantly lower in Extroversion and Susceptibility to Boredom. Subjects raised in drug/alcohol-using families scored significantly higher on Neuroticism and on the Positive Symptom Total of the BSI, and had a higher rate of suicidality.

Adolescent↗