| Drug Name |
Category |
Comments |
| 2-PAM
(Pralidoxime) |
Toxicity |
Organophosphate poisoning: Only effective within
the first few minutes of exposure. It is a strong nucleophile that can
bind with the organophosphate, releasing it from cholinesterase, before
the bond has aged. |
|
| 3-Deoxythmidin-2-ene (d4T)
(Stavudine) |
Anti-Microbial; Anti-Viral
Anti-AIDS; Nucleoside Analog |
|
| 4-methylpyrazole |
Toxicity |
A specific inhibitor of alcohol dehydrogenase that
may be used instead of ethanol, for methanol and
ethylene glycol poisoning.
|
| 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) |
Chemotherapy; Antimetabolite |
Pyrimidine antagonist. Must be given IV. Active metabolite is
5-FdUMP, which inhibits thymydilate synthetase
------> cell death due to lack of thymine. Resistance: decreased
bioactivation of 5-FU, mutations in thymydilate synthetase, increased
levels of thymidilate synthetase.
Indications: GI tumors, head and neck carcinomas. |
| 6-Mercaptopurine (6-MP) |
Chemotherapy; Antimetabolite |
Purine antagonist. Effective orally. It is converted to its active
nucleotide form by HGPRT. Resistance primarily due to lower amounts of
HGPRT; increased levels of alkaline phosphphydrolase can also inactivate
the active metabolites.
Drug is eliminated by xanthine oxidase, so Allopurinol
raises its blood levels and potentiates its effects. |
| 6-Thioguanine (6-TG) |
Chemotherapy; Antimetabolite |
Purine antagonist. Effective orally. It is converted to its active
nucleotide form by HGPRT. Resistance primarily due to lower amounts of
HGPRT; increased levels of alkaline phosphphydrolase can also inactivate
the active metabolites. |
| Acetominophen
(Tylenol) |
Anti- Inflam matory; Non-Opioid Analgesic |
Lacks Anti- Inflam matory properties of other NSAID's, but is a good
analgesic and anti-pyretic. Blocks prostaglandins only in the CNS.
Alcohol and starvation can lead to
fatal hepatotoxicity. |
| Acetylsalicylic Acid
(Aspirin) |
Anti- Inflam matory; NSAID
Platelet Inhibitor |
Irreversibly inhibits COX. Can cause GI
disturbances, unlike other NSAID's.
Has anti-platelet activity at low doses via its inhibition of
TXA2. Has Anti- Inflam matory properties at high doses
via its inhibition of PGE1. |
| Acyclovir |
Anti-Microbial; Anti-Viral
Nucleoside Analog |
Indicated for HSV-1, HSV-2, VZV. Used topically for skin lesions, or
IV for encephalitis or neonatal disease. It is activated by HSV viral
Thymidine Kinase ------> (1) it binds and
inhibits viral DNA polymerase, and (2) it is incorporated into
viral DNA, where it acts as a chain-terminator.
Resistance in HSV is due to mutations in Thymidine Kinase or the DNA
Polymerase.. |
| Adjuvants
Bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) |
Immuno modulating Agent |
Attenuated M. Bovis strain can be employed as
immunostimulant in cancer therapy. It activates macrophages,
making them more apt at killing tumor cells. |
| Allopurinol |
Anti- Inflam matory; Anti-Gout |
It inhibits Xanthine Oxidase. Can cause an attack
of acute gouty arthritis when first administered, caused by resorption
of uric acid from the tissues. Concurrent Colchicine can be given during
the first week of therapy to prevent this side-effect.
Drug Interactions: Increases blood levels of Mercaptopurines,
Cyclophosphamide. |
| Amantidine |
Anti-Microbial; Anti-Viral
Uptake Inhibitor |
It inhibits viral absorption and uptake. Indicated for
Influenza A, Rubella. Used prophylactically after Influenza-A
exposure.Adverse Effects: Insomnia, restlessness, nervousness,
depression. |
| Amikacin |
Anti-Microbial; Anti-Bacterial
Synthesis Inhitor; Aminoglycoside |
Newest agents. Currently effective against strains that are
resistant to the other aminoglycosides. |
| Aminocaproic Acid |
Hemopoeitic; Clotting
Prothrombogenic
Toxicity |
They inhibit the conversion of plasminogen to plasmin. Used as
adjunctive therapy in treating hemophilias.
Indicated for tPA, streptokinase toxicity. |
| Aminoglutethamide |
Chemotherapy; Hormonal Agent |
Aromatase Inhibitor decrease the conversion of
androstenedione to estrone. Interrupts estrogen synthesis and is thus
useful in metastatic breast cancer. |
| Amodiaquine |
Anti-Microbial; Anti-Parasitic
Anti-Malarial |
Blood schizonticide. |
| Amoxacillin |
Anti-Microbial; Anti-Bacterial
ICWS; Penicillins
Broad-Spectrum |
Broad-spectrum agent. Increased gram-negative
activity |
| Amphotericin B |
Anti-Microbial; Anti-Fungal
Polyene |
Attacks ergosterol causing cell lysis. Broad-spectrum. Is not
absorbed orally. Given IV for systemic infections, but doesn't readily
penetrate CNS.
Adverse Effects: "Amphoterrible" fever, chills,
nephrotoxicity, anemia, hepatotoxicity. |
| Ampicillin |
Anti-Microbial; Anti-Bacterial
ICWS; Penicillins
Broad-Spectrum |
Broad-spectrum agent. PO. Increased gram-negative
activity. Acid-stable, but beta-lactamase sensitive.
90% of patients with Mononucleosis get a rash while
receiving this drug. |
| Amsacrine (AMSA) |
Chemotherapy; Miscellaneous |
|
| Anistreplase |
Hemopoeitic; Clotting
Thrombolytic Agent |
The acylated form of the Streptokinase-Plasminogen Activated Complex
(APSAC); no risk of systemic fibrinolysis. Longer
lasting than the others. Infused IV for 3-5 minutes. |
| Anti-Lymphocyte Globulin |
Immuno suppressant
Antibody |
It activates complement-mediated destruction of lymphocytes ------>
decreased cellular immunity. There is little effect on
humoral immunity. Indications: Organ transplantations, GVHD.
Adverse Effects: Pain, erythema, possibly lymphoma at site of
injection. Anaphylactic shock, serum sickness. |
| Anti-T-Cell Antibody OKT3 |
Immuno suppressant
Antibody |
Mouse monoclonal antibody against the CD3 T-Cell Receptor.It
inhibits the interaction between antigen-presenting cells and T-Cells.
Indications: Kidney transplantation. |
| Anti-Thymocyte Globulin |
Immuno suppressant
Antibody |
Indications: Idiopathic aplastic anemia, or to
counter the auto-immune effects of gamma-Interferon, secondary to
hemopoeitic suppression. |
| Atropine |
Toxicity |
Treatment of choice after the bond has aged and become irreversible,
in organophosphate poisoning. First-line treatment for
carbamate poisoning. |
| Augmentin
(Amoxicillin + Clavulanic Acid) |
Anti-Microbial; Anti-Bacterial
ICWS; Penicillins |
Combination of Amoxicillin and Clavulanic Acid is called Augmentin.
Good choice for pediatric Otitis Media. |
| Auranofin |
Anti- Inflam matory; Anti-RA
Gold Salts |
29% gold, PO. Mech: Macrophages uptake the drug ------> suppress
phagocytic and lysosomal activity. Gold accumulates in multiple tissues. |
| Aurothioglucose |
Anti- Inflam matory; Anti-RA
Gold Salts |
50% gold, IM. Mech: Macrophages uptake the drug ------> suppress
phagocytic and lysosomal activity. Gold accumulates in multiple tissues. |
| Aurothiomalate |
Anti- Inflam matory; Anti-RA
Gold Salts |
50% gold, IM. Mech: Macrophages uptake the drug ------> suppress
phagocytic and lysosomal activity. Gold accumulates in multiple tissues. |
| Azacitidine |
Chemotherapy; Antimetabolite |
|
| Azathioprine |
Immuno suppressant
Chemotherapy; Miscellaneous
Anti-RA |
Pro-drug, it is converted by glutathione S-transferase to
6-Mercaptopurine, active form of drug. It is toxic to
proliferating T-Cells and B-Cells, after antigen exposure. Allopurinol,
renal disease raise its blood levels.
Indications: kidney transplants, autoimmune diseases
(glomerulonephritis, hemolytic anemia).
Adverse Effects: Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea. Bone marrow suppression.
Fever, skin rashes. Liver dysfunction and jaundice, ocassionally.
Azothioprine or Methotrexate can be used to treat severe RA. |
| Azidothymidine (AZT)
(Zidovudine) |
Anti-Microbial; Anti-Viral
Anti-AIDS; Nucleoside Analog
Immuno suppressant |
Half-life of 1-3 hrs. Gets into CNS (60%). Mech: It is
phosphorylates to the triphosphate form, which is the active form. Then,
(1) It competitively inhibits HIV Reverse Transcriptase,
and (2) It is a chain-terminator of HIV viral DNA
synthesis. Resistance is common, due mutations in viral Reverse
Transcriptase.
Adverse Effects: May be severe. Bone marrow depression.
Headaches, agitation, insomnia. |
| Azithromycin |
Anti-Microbial; Anti-Bacterial
Synthesis Inhibitor; Macrolide |
|
| Aztreonam |
Anti-Microbial; Anti-Bacterial
ICWS; Monobactam |
beta-Lactamase resistant. Effective against gram-negative
aerobes such as Pseudomonas, Serratia. Little or no
activity against gram-positives or anaerobes. |
| Bacitracin |
Anti-Microbial; Anti-Bacterial
ICWS; Intracellular |
Bactericidal. It is only used as a topical
antibacterial. Severe nephrotoxicity prevents systemic use. Inhibits
cell-wall synthesis intracellularly. |
| Benzathine Penicillin G |
Anti-Microbial; Anti-Bacterial
ICWS; Penicillins |
Relatively insoluble salt of penicillin is given IM
as a "depot" preparation, for long-term storage in muscle and sustained
release. |
| Bleomycin |
Chemotherapy; Antibiotic |
Only IV. Bleomycin hydrolase inactivates the drug
in the liver and kidney, but the enzyme is not found in skin and lungs.
It is the only cell-cycle specific (CCS) agent among
the antibiotics. It intercalates between DNA base pairs, and it also
chelates iron, generating oxygen radicals
which further damage the DNA.
Indicated for testicular carcinoma. Adverse Effects: Irreversible
pulmonary fibrosis. |
| Bufferin |
Anti- Inflam matory; NSAID |
Contains aspirin in enteric-coated granules, which
are intended to prevent absorption of aspirin in the stomach, and
protect the stomach mucosa from aspirin. |
| Busulfan |
Chemotherapy; Alkylating Agent
Alkylsulfonate |
Alkylsulfonate, pro-drug, oral. Indicated for Chronic
Myelogenous Leukemia.
Adverse Effects: Adrenal Insufficiency, increased skin pigmentation.
Pulmonary fibrosis. |
