Current Drugs and Pharmaceuticals (CDP) is a print version of our website www.druginfosys.com, the first interactive medical website from Pakistan. CDP has more than any such book (guides, manuals, indices) available in different countries with different names. It contains all the data on website and appears biannually in May and October every
year.
CDP provides you
q Very useful information about all pharmacological groups
q Summarized technical information on all drug molecules
q A complete index of commercial products available in Pakistan.

Beside the useful information about all pharmacological groups, which we have not put on the site and some of the information available on the website not been included in this issue, as such the reader may consult both the sources to find the information of his choice. Now the information contained in the book is classified as under.

 
 

PHARMACOLOGICAL GROUPS
This section introduces the reader to popular main categories of the drugs. This section briefly outlines these categories and tells about Mode of action, Therapeutics, Usage precautions of drugs contained in these categories. It further lists sub categories contained in every main category.

  

Drugs Monographs:
Any sub category mentioned in ‘Main Categories’ is described here in more specific way, finally one can find generic names of all Drug molecules contained in the category.

  

MONOGRAPHS
In this section monographs on all drug molecules are arranged alphabetically on their generic names e.g. Acarbose, Benzyl penicillin, Cefotaxime, Lexamethasone etc. Monographs contain very useful summarized information for every drug on Primary characteristics, Pharmacokinetics, Indications, Contraindications, Side Effects, Dosage and Available brands in Pakistan.

  

Introduction: Anesthetics are the agents used to abolish the sensation of pain. They are classified into two classes general and local anesthetics. Local anesthetics are those agents whose anesthetic action is limited to an area of the body around the site of its application. They usually do not cause central nervous system depression. General anesthetics are central nervous system depressant with action that can be induced or terminated more rapidly than those of sedative-hypnotics. General anesthetics themselves and/or in the combination with other agents produce a state of unconsciousness, analgesia and amnesia, with skeletal muscle relaxation and loss of reflexes essential for the surgical practice .

Mode of Action: Local anaesthesia is produced as a result when sensory input from a local area to the central nervous system is blocked. Local anesthetics block the sodium channel of excitable membrane, thus blocking the nerve conduction, produce a transient and reversible loss of sensation in a regionalized area of the body without producing loss of consciousness. The mechanism of general anesthetics is unclear, but these drugs usually increase the threshold of firing of central nervous system neurons. Possible mechanism of action includes the blockade of ion channels by interaction with membrane lipid or proteins as well as effects on central neurotransmitter mechanism. Inhibition of neurons involved in pain pathways occurs before inhibition of neurons in the midbrain reticular formation.

Therapeutics: The agents of this class are used for local anaesthesia and for induction and maintenance of general anaesthesia. They may cause increased blood pressure, tachycardia, mental confusion and psychomotor agitation. These agents should not be given in hypertension and in case of hypersensitivity.

Usage Precautions: Anesthetic agents should be given with caution to the elderly, children, to debilitated, patients with epilepsy, impaired cardiac conduction or respiratory function. These agents should be administered slowly, because rapid administration or over dose may cause respiratory depression.

GA = General Anaesthesia

1.1 General anesthetics and oxygen

 

1.1.1 Intravenous agents

 Etomidate
Primary Characteristics: Origin: Synthetic, Chemical Group: Phenylethyl Imidazole, Pharmacological groups: Chloride Channel Potentiater (GABA operated), General Anesthetics, Mol. Weight: 244.3, pKa: 4.1

Pharmacokinetics: Vd: 3.25 l/kg, Plasma Protein Binding: 75%, Metabolism: Hepatic, Renal Excretion: 90%, t½: 5 hr

High Risk Groups: Pregnant Mothers & Patients suffering from Liver Malfunction.

Indications: Induction Of Anesthesia

Contraindications: Epilepsy, Porphyrias, Adrenocortical Insufficiency,

Adverse Effects:
Symptomatic: Local Pain, Nausea and Vomiting & Involuntary Muscle Movements
Severe: Cortisol Synthesis Inhibition
Life Threatening: Death
Acute Over Dosage: Rapid Fall in BP

Warnings and Precautions: Patients should observed caution while driving or performing other tasks requiring alertness, because may cause drowsiness. Patients with chronic disease such as diabetes or hypertension may require adjustment to their therapy before anesthesia. Anesthetics should be given with caution in patients with cardiac, respiratory, renal or hepatic impairment.

Storage Conditions:
Inj: Store at room temperature. Do not Freeze. Protect from Sunlight.

Adult Dose

Frequency

Route

Instructions

20 mg

--

Slow IV

As Required

Introduction: This class includes the Ciprofloxacin ( Hcl) Primary Characterstics: Ciprofloxacin ( HCl) is of Synthetic origin and belongs to Quinoline Carboxylic Acid.It belongs to DNA Gyrase inhibitor pharmacological group on the basis of mechanism of action and also classified in Antibiotics pharmacological group.The Molecular Weight of Ciprofloxacin ( HCl) is 367.8. Its pKa is 6-8.8. Pharmacokinetics: Oral absorption of Ciprofloxacin (HCl) is found to be 67%±0. Volume of distribution is found to be 177-217 litre and plasma protein binding is 30%. and metabolism is reported 5% hepatic. Renal Excretion accounts for 70% and plasma half life is 3-4 hr. Drug should not be given to Paediatrics, Pregnant Mothers, patients suffering from Kidney dysfunction, and Neonates. If prescribing authority justifies the benefits of the drug against the possible damages he/she should reevaluate them and consult the reference material and previous studies.

Indications: Ciprofloxacin ( HCl) is primarily indicated in conditions like Bacterial Infections, GI Infections, Gonorrhoea, Osteomyelitis, Respiratory Tract Infections, Sexually Transmitted Disease, Skin Structure Infections, UTI

Side Effects: The severe or irreversible adverse effects of Ciprofloxacin ( HCl), which give rise to further complications include Serum Sickness like illness, Acute Renal Failure Ciprofloxacin ( HCl) produces potentially lifethreatening effects which include Anaphylactoid reactions which are responsible for the discontinuation of Ciprofloxacin ( HCl) therapy. The signs and symptoms that are produced after the acute overdosage of Ciprofloxacin ( HCl) include Dizziness, Headache, Nausea, Vomiting, Diarrhoea, Nervousness, Termors, Urticaria, Pruritus, Photosensitivity, Dyspepsia, Rash, Elevation of Liver Enzymes, Thrombocytopenia, Seizures and Convulsions, Eosinophilia, Leukopenia

Dosage: Single DoseAdult Dose Frqy. Route Instructions
2.14mg/kg 149.8 12 Intra Venous -

Available Brands: Adacip, Algocin, Arcofloxin, Aristin-c, Axcin, Ciloxan, Cinoflox, Cipacin 250, Cipacin 500, Cipdel, Cipex, Ciplox, Ciplox 250, Ciplox 500, Ciprin, Ciprocam, Ciprocide 250, Ciprocide 500, Ciprofena, Ciprok, Ciprol, Ciproquine, Ciproscot, Ciprox, Ciproxacin, Ciproxin, Cipsa, Cithrox, Cycin, Cycin 250, Cycin 500, Cyflox, Cyrocin, Ethiflox, Excipro, Fepro, Florocin, Gavel, Hiflox, Hipro, Invoflox, Kuinopt, Labentrol, Lucid, M. Cip, Megaflox, Mercip, Mytil, Nafcin, Neofloxin, Nexter, Nicil, Novidat, Ocuciprox, Orcid, Profacs, Proflox, Prolox, Proloxab, Quidex, Quinocin, Quinoflox, Rekociprin, Riget, Rocip Drops, Roflox, Roxin, Sb Ciprin, Secofloxacin, Siprof, Siroxin, Supreme, Suprox, Veprox, Viloc, Zoloxin

COMMERCIAL BRANDS
In this section all commercial brands of drugs available in Pakistani drug market are listed in alphabetic The signs and symptoms that are produced after the acute overdosage of al order. For each brand details are provided like the name of manufacturer, dosage form, names and strengths of active ingredients, pack size, trade and retail prices.