Loop (High Ceiling) Diuretics

Loop diuretics are diuretics that act at the ascending limb of the loop of Henle in the kidney. They are primarily used in medicine to treat hypertension and edema often due to congestive heart failure or renal insufficiency. While thiazide diuretics are more effective in patients with normal kidney function, loop diuretics are more effective in patients with impaired kidney function.

Agent: Furosemide

Mechanism(s) of Action

1.    Diuretic effect is produced by inhibit of active 1 Na⁺, 1 K⁺, 2 Cl^-  co-transport (ascending limb - Loop of Henle). 
o    This produces potent diuresis as this is a relatively important Na re-absorption site.

2.    Potassium wasting effect 

a.    Blood volume reduction leads to increased production of aldosterone 
b.    Increased distal Na load secondary to diuretic effect 
c.    a + b = increase Na (to blood) for K (to urine) exchange which produces indirect K wasting (same as thiazides but more likely)

3.    Increased calcium clearance/decreased plasma calcium 

o    secondary to passive decreases in loop Ca++ reabsorption.
o    This is linked to inhibition of Cl^- reabsorption.
o    This is an important clinical effect in patients with ABNORMAL High Ca⁺⁺
 

SULPHONAMIDES

Derivative of  sulphonilamide (Para-amino Benzene (PABA ) sulphonamide).

Anti-bacterial spectrum

Bacteriostatic to gram + and gram - bacteria. but bactericidal concentrations arce attained in urine. S pyogencs. H influenzae.E coli, few- Staph aureus. gonococci. pneumococci, proteus, shigella and Lymphogranuloma venereum.

Mechanism of action

Inhibits bacterial folate synthetase as they compete with PABA

Less soluble in acid urine and may precipitate to cause crystalluria.

Accumulate in patients with renal failure and can cause toxicity

Classification

Shart Acting (4-8 Hrs) sulphadiazine, sulphamethizole.

Intermediate acting(8-16 Hrs): sulphamethoxazole , sulphaphenazole

Long Acting(l-7days): sulphamethoxypyridazine.

Ultralong Acting(3-8days): sulfaline

Adverse effects

I. nausea, vomiting and epigastric pain

2. crystalluria

3. hypersensitivity-like polyarthritis nodosa. Steven-Johnson Syndrome. photosenstivity

4.hemolysis in G-6PD deficiency

5. kernicterus

They inhibit metabolism of phenytoin. tolbutamide. methotrexate

Therapeutic Use

UTI Meningitis, Streptococcal pharyngitis, Bacillary Dysentery

Clarithromycin Used to treat  pharyngitis, tonsillitis, acute maxillary

sinusitis, acute bacterial exacerbation of chronic  bronchitis,  pneumonia (especially atypical pneumonias associated with Chlamydia pneumoniae or TWAR), skin and skin structure infections, and, in HIV and AIDS patients to prevent, and to treat, disseminated Mycobacterium avium complex or MAC.

Unlike erythromycin, clarithromycin is acid-stable and can therefore be taken orally without being protected from gastric acids. It is readily absorbed, and diffused into most tissues and phagocytes.

Clarithromycin has a fairly rapid first-pass hepatic metabolism, i.e it is metabolised by the liver. However, this metabolite, 14-hydroxy clarithromycin is almost twice as active as clarithromycin.

Contraindications Clarithromycin should be used with caution if the patient has liver or kidney disease, certain heart problems (e.g., QTc prolongation or bradycardia), or a mineral imbalance (e.g., low potassium or magnesium levels).

Propoxyphene

• A methadone analog.Used orally to relieve mild to moderate pain.
• A typical opiate, it does not possess anti-inflammatory or antipyretic actions, but has little or no antitussive activity.
• Cannot be used parenterally because of irritant properties.
• Has a low addiction potential primarily due to its lack of potency as an opiate.
• The most common adverse side effects are:• dizziness, drowsiness, and nausea and vomiting. • these effects are more prominent in ambulatory patients.
• Withdrawal symptoms have occurred in both adults and in neonates following use of the drug by the mother during pregnancy.
• CNS depression is additive with other CNS depressants.

Local anesthetic selection

Local anesthetics are typically divided into 3 main categories:

short, intermediate and long acting local anesthetics.

Based on duration of the procedure and the duration of the individual agents

Short acting agents

1. Mepivacaine 3 %

2. Lidocaine 2%

Intermediate acting agents

1. Lidocaine 2% 1:100000 epi

2. Lidocaine 2% 1:50000 epi

3. Mepivacaine 2% 1:20000 neocobefrin

4. Prilocaine 4%

5. Articaine 4% 1:100000 epi

Long acting agents

1. Bupivacaine 0.5% 1:200000 epi

ANTIASTHMATIC AGENTS

 Classification for antiasthmatic drugs.
 
I. Bronchodilators

i. Sympathomimetics (adrenergic receptor agonists)

Adrenaline, ephedrine, isoprenaline, orciprenaline, salbutamol, terbutaline, salmeterol, bambuterol

ii. Methylxanthines (theophylline and its derivatives)

Theophylline 
Hydroxyethyl theophylline 
Theophylline ethanolate of piperazine

iii. Anticholinergics

Atropine methonitrate 
Ipratropium bromide

II. Mast cell stabilizer

Sodium cromoglycate
Ketotifen 

III. Corticosteroids

Beclomethasone dipropionate 
Beclomethasone (200 µg) with salbutamol

IV. Leukotriene pathway inhibitors 

Montelukast 
Zafirlukast