Archive for July, 2010
amylobarbitone <amobarbital> An intermediate-acting *barbiturate. Amylobarbitone and its sodium salt, amylobarbitone sodium, are used for the short-term treatment of severe insomnia in people who are already taking barbiturates; amylobarbitone sodium is also given by injection to treat status epilepticus (repeated epileptic seizures). Amylobarbitone is available as tablets, its sodium salt as capsules or an injection (only for use in specialist epilepsy centres); both are ^controlled drugs.
Askit (Roche Products) A proprietary combination of * aspirin and *aloxiprin (analgesics and antipyretics) and * caffeine (a stimulant), used for the treatment of mild to moderate pain (including headache, neuralgia, toothache, and period pains) and fever and to relieve the symptoms of influenza and colds. It is freely available *over the counter in the form of capsules or powders.
Precautions: Askit should not be given to children, except on medical advice.
Alglucerase – An enzyme preparation used to replace an enzyme deficiency that gives rise to Gaucher’s disease, an inherited disorder in which lipids accumulate in the bone marrow, liver, spleen, lymph nodes, and other tissues. Alglucerase is available as a form for intravenous infusion on * prescription only; its use is restricted to specialists. Side effects: include abdominal pain, diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting, pain and irritation at the injection site, and possibly allergic reactions.
Precautions: alglucerase should not be given to people with certain types of cancer and should be used with caution in women who are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Proprietary preparation: Ceredase.
Aclacin (Medac) ACLARUBICIN.
aclarublcin A *cytotoxic antibiotic that is similar to *doxorubicin. It is
given intravenously for the treatment of leukaemias that are
resistant to standard therapy. Aclarubicin is available as an injection on
prescription only.
Precautions: aclarubicin should not be given to pregnant women and
should be used with caution in people with impaired liver or kidney
function.
Proprietary preparation: Axlacin.
acne (acne vulgaris) A common inflammatory disorder of the sebaceous glands. These grease-producing glands in the skin are under *androgen control, but the cause of acne is unknown. It involves the face, back, and chest and is characterized by the presence of blackheads with papules, pustules, and – in more severe cases – cysts and scars. Mild to moderate acne usually responds to topical therapy with *benzoyl peroxide, *azelaic acid, antibiotics (such as Mindamycin or *erythromycin), or retinoids; other topical treatments include *nicotinamide. More refractory conditions require treatment with long-term oral antibiotics (such as *oxytetracycline or *tetracycline hydrochloride) or (for treating women only) *Dianette (cyproterone and ethinyloestradiol
