Drugs used to induce vomiting

In case of poisoning with noncorrosive agents, and assuming incomplete absorption of the poison has taken place, induction of vomiting can be carried out. One of the drugs used for this purpose is emetine which causes irritation of the upper gut and, on absorption, it also acts on  CTZ.  

Chemotherapeutic agents (or their metabolites) can directly activate the medullary chemoreceptor trigger zone or vomiting center; several neuroreceptors, including dopamine receptor Type 2 and serotonin Type 3 (5-HT3) from cell damage(GIT and pharynx) play roles in vomiting.

Organic Nitrates 
Relax smooth muscle in blood vessel
Produces vasodilatation
– Decreases venous pressure and venous return to the heart  Which decreases the cardiac work load and oxygen demand. 
– May have little effect on the coronary arteries CAD causes stiffening and lack of 
–    responsiveness in the coronary arteries 
– Dilate arterioles, lowering peripheral vascular resistance  Reducing the cardiac workload

Main effect related to drop in blood pressure by
– Vasodilation- pools blood in veins and capillaries, decreasing the volume of blood that the heart has to pump around (the preload)
– relaxation of the vessels which decreases the resistance the heart has to pump against (the afterload) 

Indications
- Myocardial ischemia 
– Prevention
– Treatment 

Nitroglycerin (Nitro-Bid)
• Used
– To relive acute angina pectoris 
– Prevent exercise induced angina 
– Decrease frequency and severity of acute anginal episodes

Type 
• Oral - rapidly metabolized in the liver only small amount reaches circulation 
• Sublingual – Transmucosal tablets and sprays 
• Transdermal  – Ointment s 
– Adhesive discs applied to the skin
• IV preparations 

Sublingual Nitroglycerine 
•  Absorbed directly into the systemic circulation,  Acts within 1-3 minutes , Lasts 30-60 min 

Topical Nitroglycerine 
• Absorbed directly into systemic circulation,   Absorption at a slower rate. ,  Longer duration of action 
Ointment - effective for 4-8 hours 
Transdermal disc - effective for 18-24 hours 

Isosorbide dinitrate 
• Reduces frequency and severity of acute anginal episodes
• Sublingual or chewable acts in 2 min. effects last 2-3 hours
• Orally, systemic effects in about 30 minutes and last about 4 hours after oral administration
    
Tolerance to Long-Acting Nitrates 
• Long-acting dosage forms of nitrates may develop tolerance
– Result in episodes of chest pain
– Short acting nitrates less effective 

Prevention of Tolerance 
• Use long-acting forms for approximately 12-16 hours daily during active periods and omit them during inactive periods or sleep 
• Oral or topical should be given every 6 hours X 3 doses allowing a rest period of 6 hours

Isosorbide dinitrate (Isordil, Sorbitrate) is used to reduce the frequency and severity of acute anginal episodes.
When given sublingually or in chewable tablets, it acts in about 2 minutes, and its effects last 2 to 3 hours. When higher doses are given orally, more drug escapes metabolism in the liver and produces systemic effects in approximately 30 minutes. Therapeutic effects last about 4 hours after oral administration

Isosorbide mononitrate (Ismo, Imdur) is the metabolite and active component of isosorbide dinitrate. It is well absorbed after oral administration and almost 100% bioavailable. Unlike other oral nitrates, this drug is not subject to first-pass hepatic metabolism. Onset of action occurs within 1 hour, peak effects occur between 1 and 4 hours, and the elimination half-life is approximately 5 hours. It is used only for prophylaxis of angina; it does not act rapidly enough to relieve acute attacks.

Use of local anesthetics during pregnancy

Local anesthetics (injectable)

Drug                                                   FDA category

Articaine                                             C

Bupivacaine                                        C

Lidocaine                                            B

Mepivacaine                                        C

Prilocaine                                            B

Vasoconstrictors

Epinephrine 1:200,000 or 1:100,000 C (higher doses)

Levonordefrin 1:20,000 Not ranked

Local anesthetics (topical)

Benzocaine                                        C

Lidocaine                                            B

Phenytoin (Dilantin): for tonic-clonic and all partial seizures (not effective against absence seizures)

Mechanism: ↓ reactivation of Na channels (↑ refractory period, blocks high frequency cell firing, ↓ spread of seizure activity from focus)

Side effects: ataxia, vertigo, hirsutism (abnormal hair growth), gingival hyperplasia, osteomalacia (altered vitamin D metabolism and ↓ Ca absorption), blood dyscrasias (rare; megaloblastic anemia, etc)

Drug interactions: induces hepatic microsomal enzymes (can ↓ effectiveness of other drugs); binds tightly to plasma proteins and can displace other drugs

Ampicillin offered a broader spectrum of activity than either of the original penicillins and allowed doctors to treat a broader range of both Gram-positive and Gram-negative infections. Ampicillin is often used in molecular biology as a test for the uptake of genes (e.g., by plasmids) by bacteria (e.g., E. coli)

Glucocorticoids 
Cortisol (hydrocortisone) and its synthetic derivatives 

Mechanism 

↓ the production of leukotrienes and prostaglandins   - inhibits phospholipase A2 , inhibits expression of COX-2 , will also stimulate the bone marrow to produce neutrophils resulting in leukocytosis 

halts inflammatory cascade 

↓ leukocyte migration
↓ capillary permeability
↓ phagocytosis
↓ platelet-activating factor
↓ interleukins (e.g. IL-2)

may trigger apoptosis in dividing and non-dividing cells

used in cancer chemotherapy

Clinical use

anti-inflammatory
immunosuppression
cancer chemotherapy (prednisone most common)
CLL
Hodgkin's lymphomas
part of MOPP regimen
Addison disease
asthma

Toxicity

1) must taper dose to avoid toxicity
2) suppression of ACTH → shock state if abrupt withdrawal - > cortical atrophy, malaise, myalgia, arthralgia, fever
3) iatrogenic Cushing  syndrome ->buffalo hump, moon facies, truncal obesity, muscle weakness and atrophy, thin skin, easy bruising, acne
4) osteoporosis - vertebral fractures, aseptic hip necrosis, ↓ skeletal growth in children 
5) hyperglycemia (diabetes) -due to ↑ gluconeogenesis , glaucoma, cataracts, and other complications can subsequently result
6) ↑ GI acid release -ulcers
7) Na+ retention -> edema, HTN, hypokalemia alkalosis, hypocalcemia
8)↓ wound healing
9) ↑ infections
10) mental status changes
11) cataracts