Placebo and Analgesic Nitrous Oxide for Treatment of the Alcohol Withdrawal State

1991 ◽  
Vol 159 (5) ◽  
pp. 672-675 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark A. Gillman ◽  
Frederick J. Lichtigfeld
Keyword(s):  
Nitrous Oxide ◽  
Rapid Method ◽  
Alcohol Withdrawal ◽  
Pharmacological Intervention ◽  
Pharmacological Agents ◽  
Present Evidence ◽  
Safe Treatment ◽  
Intensive Monitoring ◽  
Medical Air

We present evidence that analgesic (as distinct from anaesthetic) nitrous oxide is superior to placebo in the treatment of the alcohol withdrawal state. ‘Carbogen’ as a placebo is as effective as oxygen or medical air. However, placebo alone offers a means of treating the alcohol withdrawal state with a minimum of pharmacological intervention. Analgesic nitrous oxide for those not responding to placebo is a very rapid, effective, and extremely safe treatment which also reduces the use of highly addictive sedative pharmacological agents. This therapy also provides a rapid method of screening those patients requiring intensive monitoring and treatment in hospital from those who might benefit from out-patient therapy alone.

scholarly journals Pharmacological Agents Targeting the Cellular Prion Protein

Pathogens ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 27 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Barreca ◽  
Nunzio Iraci ◽  
Silvia Biggi ◽  
Violetta Cecchetti ◽  
Emiliano Biasini
Keyword(s):  
Prion Protein ◽  
Prion Diseases ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Experimental Models ◽  
Cellular Prion Protein ◽  
Pharmacological Intervention ◽  
Therapeutic Effects ◽  
Pharmacological Agents ◽  
Alternative Approach ◽  
Common Substrate

Prion diseases are associated with the conversion of the cellular prion protein (PrPC), a glycoprotein expressed at the surface of a wide variety of cell types, into a misfolded conformer (the scrapie form of PrP, or PrPSc) that accumulates in brain tissues of affected individuals. PrPSc is a self-catalytic protein assembly capable of recruiting native conformers of PrPC, and causing their rearrangement into new PrPSc molecules. Several previous attempts to identify therapeutic agents against prion diseases have targeted PrPSc, and a number of compounds have shown potent anti-prion effects in experimental models. Unfortunately, so far, none of these molecules has successfully been translated into effective therapies for prion diseases. Moreover, mounting evidence suggests that PrPSc might be a difficult pharmacological target because of its poorly defined structure, heterogeneous composition, and ability to generate different structural conformers (known as prion strains) that can elude pharmacological intervention. In the last decade, a less intuitive strategy to overcome all these problems has emerged: targeting PrPC, the common substrate of any prion strain replication. This alternative approach possesses several technical and theoretical advantages, including the possibility of providing therapeutic effects also for other neurodegenerative disorders, based on recent observations indicating a role for PrPC in delivering neurotoxic signals of different misfolded proteins. Here, we provide an overview of compounds claimed to exert anti-prion effects by directly binding to PrPC, discussing pharmacological properties and therapeutic potentials of each chemical class.

Analgesia, Anaesthesia, and Sedation

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas Longridge ◽  
Pete Clarke ◽  
Raheel Aftab ◽  
Tariq Ali
Keyword(s):  
Nitrous Oxide ◽  
General Anaesthesia ◽  
Human Body ◽  
Conscious Sedation ◽  
Treatment Modalities ◽  
Pharmacological Agents ◽  
Good Working ◽  
Post Operative Pain ◽  
Analgesic Agents ◽  
Key Topics

The ability to practise dentistry and provide invasive treatments to pa­tients is based on the ability to make such procedures comfortable and acceptable for patients to tolerate, as well as manage post- operative pain. A good working knowledge of the different treatment modalities available, and analgesic agents that can be prescribed, is key to effective management of patients. This must include the indications and limita­tions of each modality. The pharmacology of most drugs used in modern- day dentistry has changed very little since their introduction, some as far back as 100 years ago. However, it is important to understand the processes regarding their method of action, their effect on the human body, and their indica­tions and contraindications. All of these factors must be considered to maximize the clinical benefit to the patient. Several guidelines regarding the use of conscious sedation in dentistry have recently been introduced, and it is important that those wishing to provide conscious sedation and refer patients appropriately familiarize themselves with these guidelines. Key topics include: ● Principles of analgesia, anaesthesia, and conscious sedation ● Pharmacology and pharmacodynamics of commonly used pharmaco­logical agents ● Indications and contraindications of commonly used pharmacological agents ● Conscious sedation with nitrous oxide ● Conscious sedation with midazolam ● General anaesthesia ● Treatment planning for conscious sedation and general anaesthesia ● Managing complications and adverse reactions

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