Posts Tagged ‘pentamidine’

oxitropium An anticholinergic bronchodilator similar to ipratropium, and used by aerosol inhalation in stable chronic asthma and related conditions.
Dose: 200-300pg (4-6 puffs) daily. . See page 118 and Table 6.

Dose: 1-3 mega-units/min by i.v. infu,ion only, with monitoring. Excessive doses may cause severe uterine contractions with the risk of fetal asphyxiation. (Syntocinon).

oxpentity1fine An aminophyline-like drug used mainly as a vasodilator in periphei at vascular disorders.
Dose: 800-1200 mg. It may cause nausea, flushing and dizziness. Care is necessary in hypotensive states. (Trental).
oxprenoW A beta- ad renoceptor blocking agent with the actions, uses and side-effects of propranolol. It also has anxiolytic properties, and may reduce the symptoms of transient stress such as tremor and palpitations.
Dose: 60-480 mg daily. (Slow- Trasicor). See page 148 and Table 21.
oxybuprocaine A local anaesthetic for ophthalmic use, including tonometry, as a 0.4% solution.
oxybutynin An anticholinergic antispasmodic that promotes relaxation of the detrusor muscle of the bladder.
Dose: in urinary incontinence, 10-20 ing daily; 10 mg daily for children with neurogenic bladder instability. Side-effects are those of anticholinergic drugs generally. (Cystrin; Ditropan). See page 174.
toxycodone A powerful narcotic analgesic with a prolonged action. Used as suppositories of 30 mg in terminal care.
oxypertine A tranquillizer with a chlorpromazine-like action, and used in anxiety neuroses, psychoses and schizophrenic states.
Dose: 30-60 mg daily in anxiety states; up to 300 nig daily in schizophrenia.In higher doses it may cause nausea, dizziness and drowsiness. See page 168 and Table 30.
paclitaxelk’ A new cytotoxic agent originally obtained from the bark of the Pacific Yew. It prevents mitosis and inhibits cell growth by stabilizing microtubule production. It is used by specialists for metastatic ovarian cancer not responding to platinum therapy. Premedication is necessary to prevent severe hypersensitivity reactions. (Taxol). See page 122 and,rable 8.
pamidronate disodium A bisphosphonate with the actions and uses of etidronate. It is used mainly in the hypercalcaemia of malignancy, as it inhibits the development of active osteoclasts.
Dose: by i.v. infusion 10-90 mg or more according to the degree of hypercalcaemia. The initial response may occur within 24-48 hours. Dose in Paget’s disease of bone, 30 nig weekly. Care is necessary in marked renal impairment. (Aredia).
pancreatin A preparation containing the pancreatic enzymes, trypsin, lipase and amylase. It is used to aid the digestion of fats, proteins and carbohydrates in cystic fibrosis and pancreatitis. Some high-strength products have caused fibrotic strictures of the large bowel.
pancuronium A non-depolarizing or competitive muscle relaxant that has little histamine-releasing or cardiovascular action.
Dose: 50-100 pg/kg i.v. initially with Supplementary doses of 10-20 pg/kg as required. (Pavulon).
oxytetracycline (Terramycin). See tetracv-
oxytocin The oxytocic fraction of pituitary extract, but now made synthetically. Used for the induction and maintenance of labour, and to control post-partum haemorrhage, either alone or in association with ergometrinc.
pantoprazoleV A proton pump inhibitor similar to omeprazole, used in peptic ulcer and reflex oesophagitis.
Dose: 40 mg daily with breakfast. The tablets must be swallowed whole with water, and not chewed or crushed. (Proteunfl. See page 162 and Table 27.
papaveretum A preparation of the alkaloids of opium, containing approximately 50% of morphine together with papaverine and codeine. Used mainly by injection, often in association with hyoscine (scopolamine) for premedication. Dose: 7.7-15.4 nig repeated as required.
papaverine One of the alkaloids of opium. It has little analgesic action, and has been used mainly as a smooth muscle relaxant in peripheral vascular diseases. More recently it has been used by intracavernosal injection in the treatment of impotence.
paracetamol A widely used mild analgesic with few side-effects except in large doses. It differs from aspirin in the absence of any anti-inflammatory action.
Dose: 2-4 g daily. Paediatric suppositories of 125 mg are available. Overdose may cause severe liver damage (see acetylcysIcinc).
paraffin A generic name for hydrocarbon mixtures. Soft paraffin is the common ointment base; liquid paraffin is a lubricant laxative. Hard paraffin was used in the wax bath treatment of rheumatic conditions.
paraldehyde A colourless liquid with a strong characteristic odour. It was once used as a chloral-like sedative causing little respiratory depression; now given by deep i.m. injection in status asthinaticus. Dose: 5-10 nil. Occasionally given in similar doses by rectUril, diluted with saline or arachis oil. Discoloured paraldehyde must not be used.
paroxetine A selective inhibitor of sero(011111 uptake in the central nervous system, and indicated in the treatment of depression.
Dose: 20 ing daily, initially in the morning, with food, slowly increased as required to 50 mg daily. It should not be given with any other drug likely to increase serotonin uptake. Side-effects are nausea, drowsiness and insomnia. Extrapyramidal reactions may occur more often with paroxetine. (Seroxat). See page 128 and Table i I.
penciclovir An antiviral agent used as a 1% cream for cold sores (Herpes kabialis). Treatment should be started as soon as possible by applying the cream every 2 hours for 4 days. (Vectavir). See page 144 anti Table 19.
penicillarnine A breakdown product of penicillin which has the power of combining with certain metals to form a water-soluble, non-toxic complex that is excreted in the urine. It is used in Wilson’s disease, which is due to the retention of copper in the body, in poisoning by lead and mercury, in chronic active hepatitis (after the condition has been controlled), in cystinuria, and in severe rheumatoid arthritis in which it has an action similar to that of gold.
Dose: in Wilson’s disease, 1.5-2 g daily before food for sonic months. In chronic hepatitis, 500 mg daily initially, slowly increased over some weeks to 1.25g daily. In rheumatoid arthritis, 125-250 trig daily initially before food, slowly increased at monthly intervals with maintenance doses of 500-750 mg daily. Patients should be warned that the response in rheumatoid arthritis is slow. In cystinuria, 1-3 g daily with adequate fluids, ad iusted later to maintain the urinary cysteine level below 200 mg/I. Dose in heavy metal poisoning, 2g daily. Side-effects include nausea, loss of taste, rash and thrombocytopenia. Blood Counts during treatment are essential and patients should be advised to report most side-effects. A late onset rash may require cessation of treatment. (Distarnine; Pendramine). See page 165 and Table 29.
penicillin, benzyl penicillin, penicillin G I lie first of the antibiotics. It acts by pre venting the development of the bacterial cell wall, but some groups of organisms vary widely in the degree of sensitivity to penicillin, and it is inactivated by penicillinase-producing organisms. Penicillin is inactive orally, and so is given by i.m. injection, but as it is rapidly excreted the action is relatively brief. Derivatives such as procaine-penicillin have a longer action (penicillin V is an orally active derivative). The main side-effect is hypersensitivity, and sensitivity to one penicillin extends to any other penicillin, and may also include sensitivity to the related cephalosporins. High doses of penicillin, especially in patients with renal insufficiency, may occasionally cause cerebral irritation and encephalopathy. Cloxacillin and amoxycillin are derivatives of penicillin active against resistant staphylococci; ampicillin has a wide range of activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative organisms; piperacillin and ticarcillin are active against Pseudomottas acruginosa.

pentaerythitol tetranitrate A vasodilator with properties resembling those of glyceryl trinitrate, but with a more prolonged action. Used mainly in the prophylaxis of angina as side-effects are relatively infrequent.
Dose: 60-240 mg daily. (Mycardol). See page 114 and Table 4.
pentamidine A synthetic drug used in the treatment ofPneutnocystiscarinii pneumonia in AIDS and other immunocompromised patients, as an alternative to co-trimoxazole.
Dose: 4 nig/kg daily by i.v. infusion for 14 clays or more, or by inhalation of a nebulized solution. Other dosage schemes are used in the treatment of’trypaiiosomiasis and leislunaniasis. Severe reactions, particularly hypotension, may occur, and pentamidine should be used only under expert supervision. (Pentacarinao.
pentastarch A starch-derived plasma substitute used as a 10% solution in burns and septicaemia.
Dose: by i.v. infusion 500 nil-21.. (Haes.
See hetastarch.
tpentazocine A powerful analgesic of the morphine type, but less likely to cause addiction, although dependence may occur with long treatment.
Dose: 100 -400 nig daily after food, up to 360 nig daily by injection. Suppositories of 50 mg are available. Hallucinations ions are an occasional side-effect. It should be
avoided after myocardial infarction as it may increase the cardiac load. Other side effects include dizziness, nausea, tachycardia and rash. It should be avoided in opioid-dependent patients. (Fortral).
pentostatin A potent cytotoxic agent used in hairy cell leukaemia. It is an inhibitor of adenosine deaminase, and may affect RNA synthesis and cause DNA breakdown.
Dose: i.v. under specialist supervision, 4 ing/ni’every other week, continued up to 6 months unless a remission has been achieved. Side-effects include myelosuppression, leukopenia, renal and liver toxicity and rash. Blood counts are necessary during treatment. (Nipent). See page 122.
peppermint oil Aromatic carminative. Dose: 0.2 -0.4 ml. (Colpermin; Nlintec).
pergolide A dopamine agonist with a stimulating action on both D, and D, receptors. It is used in the auxiliary treatment of parkinsonism, and combined treatment may permit a reduction in the dose of levodopa and its side-effects. Dose: 100 jig daily initially, slowly increased at 3-day intervals according to response, with care taken to avoid initial hypotension. Other side-effects include nausea, diarrhoea, confusion and hallucinations. (Celance). See page 160 and
pericyazine A tranquillizer of the chlorpromazine type with similar uses and side-effects. It is used mainly in schizophrenia and severe anxiety states.
Dose: 15-75ingdaily, slowly Y increased according to need up to 300 111g. ( Neulactil). See page 168 and Table 30.
perindopril A long-acting ACE inhibitor used in the control of essential hypertension not responding to other drugs. Dose: initially, it single daily dose of 2 mg (before food), subsequently adjusted up to a maximum of 8 nig daily. Diuretic therapy should first be withdrawn for 2-3 days, and renal function should be assessed before and during treatment. It is also used as supplementary therapy in heart failure in doses of 2-4 ing. (Coversyl). See page H8 and Table 21.
permethrin An insecticide used as 1% cream for head lice, and 5% cream for scabies. (Lyclear).
perphenazine A tranquillizer with the actions, uses and side-effects of chlorpromazine, but it is less sedating, and effective in lower doses.
Dose: psychiatric and antiemetic, 12-24 nig daily. It is sometimes useful in the control of, intractable hiccup. (Fentazin). See page 168 and Table 30.
pethidine A synthetic analgesic with spasmolytic properties. Widely employed as an alternative to morphine for pre- and post-operative use. Of value in obstetrics as it has a less depressant action than morphine on the respiration.