Medical, Drugs, Pharmaceuticals And Diseases Information

HealthDay - TUESDAY, Aug. 26 (HealthDay News) — The makers of the type 2
diabetes drug Byetta reported Tuesday the deaths of four more people who’d
been taking the medication.

Reuters - An epilepsy drug being tested for
use in treating addiction can help obese rats shed weight, U.S.
government researchers said on Wednesday.

HealthDay - MONDAY, Aug. 25 (HealthDay News) — A new study identifies some
women — but not men — who might be able to stop taking blood-thinning
medication for the clotting condition called venous thromboembolism.

HealthDay - (HealthDay News) — Here are the latest clinical trials, courtesy
of CenterWatch:

Orciprenaline also known as metaproterenol is a bronchodilator used in the treatment of asthma. Orciprenaline is a moderately selective beta2-adrenergic receptor agonist that stimulates receptors of the smooth muscle in the lungs, uterus, and vasculature supplying skeletal muscle, with minimal or no effect on alpha-adrenergic receptors. The pharmacologic effects of beta adrenergic agonist drugs, such as orciprenaline, are at least in part attributable to stimulation through beta adrenergic receptors of intracellular adenyl cyclase, the enzyme which catalyzes the conversion of ATP to cAMP. Increased cAMP levels are associated with relaxation of bronchial smooth muscle and inhibition of release of mediators of immediate hypersensitivity from many cells, especially from mast cells.

Pirbuterol commercially available as Maxair is a beta-2 adrenergic bronchodilator used in the treatment of asthma, available (as perbuterol acetate) as a breath-activated metered-dose inhaler. MAXAIR AUTOHALER is a pressurized metered-dose aerosol unit for oral inhalation. It provides a fine-particle suspension of maxair acetate in the propellant mixture of trichioro-monofluoromethane and dichlorodifluoromethane, with sorbitan trioleate. Each actuation delivers 253 mcg of maxair (as maxair acetate) from the valve and 200 mcg of maxair (as maxair acetate) from the mouthpiece. The unit is breath-actuated such that the medication is delivered automatically during inspiration without the need for the patient to coordinate actuation with inspiration.

Maxair is used to treat wheezing and shortness of breath that commonly occur with lung problems (e.g., asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease-COPD). Controlling these symptoms can decrease time lost from work or school. maxair is a bronchodilator (beta-2 receptor agonist) that works by opening breathing passages to make breathing easier. This medicine comes in an inhaler that automatically releases a puff of medicine when you inhale. The inhaler allows the drug to reach deep into the lungs for the most benefit. Because this type of inhaler is used differently than other types, be sure to follow directions closely.

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Indacaterol is an ultra long acting beta-adrenoceptor agonist currently undergoing research. It needs only be taken once a day, unlike the currently available Formoterol and Salmeterol. Such drugs are used in the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma.

Indacaterol by Novartis is an effective and well-tolerated treatment of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) over 24 hours with a rapid onset of action. The combination of 24-hour efficacy and a reassuring safety profile suggests that in time, a once-daily dose of indacaterol could become a new standard of care for bronchodilation in asthma and COPD. Indacaterol could be the first beta2-agonist to be taken only once-daily providing full 24 hour symptom control with a single administration, in contrast to currently-available long-acting beta2-agonists (LABAs) such as salmeterol and formoterol which have to be taken twice-daily.

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Xopenex as a bronchodilator is used to treat asthma and COPD. In general, xopenex has similar pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties to albuterol; however, its manufacturer, Sepracor, has implied (although not directly claimed) that the presence of only the R-enantiomer produces fewer side effects.

Physicians sometimes elect to use xopenex in patients with a history of supraventricular tachycardia or other arrhythmias because it is thought that xopenex may produce less direct effects on beta-adrenergic receptors in the heart. For similar reasons, some pediatricians also use xopenex for patients who experience hyperactivity or jitteriness from racemic albuterol.

The use of xopenex over the more traditionally used racemic albuterol is controversial among health care professionals. That using xopenex instead of albuterol produces less direct effect on beta adrenergic receptors and/or fewer cardiac side effects has been suggested, but not consistently demonstrated by long term, well-designed clinical trials.

There are differing opinions on whether there is sufficient therapeutic benefit to using xopenex that outweighs the 5-10 times higher price tag. In general, it appears that if a clinician and patient feel that a low dose of racemic mixture is causing undesirable side effects, xopenex may be a viable alternative. xopenex was originally available only as a solution for nebulizer and eventually become available as a CFC-free metered dose inhaler under the trade name Xopenex HFA (xopenex tartrate) Inhalation Aerosol.

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Clenbuterol is a drug to releive breathing disorders and acts as a decongestant and bronchodilator. People with chronic breathing disorders like asthma use this as a bronchodilator to make breathing easier. It is most commonly available in salt form as Clenbuterol hydrochloride.

Clenbuterol is a beta adrenergic agonist similar to ephedrine, but its effects are more potent and longer-lasting as a stimulant and thermogenic drug. It causes an increase in aerobic capacity, central nervous system stimulation, and an increase in blood pressure and oxygen transportation. It increases the rate at which fat and protein is used up in the body at the same time as slowing down the storage of glycogen. It is commonly used for smooth muscle relaxant properties. This means that it is a bronchodilator and tocolytic. It is usually used in dosages anywhere from 20-60 micrograms a day when prescribed. A dose of about 150 % should never be exceeded in a day. It is also prescribed for treatment of horses; however, equestrian usage is usually the liquid form of clenbuterol. Clenbuterol is also a sympathomimetic in the peripheral nervous system. Clenbuterol produced for human consumption is generally in tablet form. The most common veterinarian preparation is a syrup. Clenbuterol is not approved for human use in Australia and is also banned under the Olympic Movement’s World Anti-Doping Code Prohibited Classes of Substances and Prohibited Methods.

Clenbuterol is approved for use in some countries as a bronchodilator for asthma patients. Recently though, the drug has been publicized for its off-label use as a weight loss drug. It is commonly used as a slimming aid despite lack of sufficient clinical evidence supporting such use. With many major diet review websites talking about clenbuterol, and given its accessibility via the internet, the drug is widely used as a “dietary supplement”. In fact, nowadays it is recommended by many physical trainers as the primary solution for those bodybuilders who desire to achieve sufficiently low body fat in order to look “cut”. In many cases, it is introduced into the training regime not as an illegal drug, but simply as a weight loss aid. This reduces some of the negative connotations attached to illicit drug use and thereby decreases any hesitation to take the drug on the part of the trainee.

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Clenbuterol is used worldwide for the treatment of allergic respiratory disease in horses, as it is a bronchodilator. A common trade name is Ventipulmin. It can be used both orally and intravenously. It is also a non-steroidal anabolic and metabolism accelerator, through a mechanism not well understood. Its ability to induce weight loss and a greater proportion of muscle to fat makes its illegal use in livestock popular.

The common side effects of clenbuterol include Headaches, Tremors, Cramps, Restlessness, Anxiety, Insomnia, Sweating, Increased appetite, Nausea, Palpitations, Nausea and Hypertension (high blood pressure). Clenbuterol is known to cause very high blood pressure resulting in serious cardiac problems. Unsupervised use of clenbuterol could exacerbate pre-existing heart conditions or hypertension. There is a risk of overdose and stroke when used at high doses. There have been reports of sudden deaths among bodybuilders on clenbuterol, although it is unclear whether this was the result of clenbuterol or other drug combinations. There are also some very negative effects on their hearts when used long term. The hearts of rats on clenbuterol increased in size due to the infiltration of collagen fibres into the heart wall. Collagen is a tough connective tissue that can stiffen the heart muscle, actually reducing cardiac output and possibly producing cardiac arrhythmias. Also, clenbuterol Rats suffered from noticeable cardiac-cell degeneration.

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