scholarly journals Side effects of the cough drug dextromethorphan, studied on ants as models  

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 40-50
Author(s):  
Marie Claire Cammaerts ◽  
Roger Cammaerts
Keyword(s):  
Side Effects ◽  
Food Consumption ◽  
Social Relationships ◽  
Pain Perception ◽  
Limited Time ◽  
Biological Models ◽  
Therapeutic Doses ◽  
Orientation Ability

Dextromethorphan, the currently preferred cough drug, tested on ants used as biological models, decreased the food consumption of these insects, increased their sinuosity of movement, reduced their tactile (pain) perception, and impacted their social relationships. It did not affect the ants’ orientation ability, audacity, cognition, conditioning acquisition and memory. The ants did not adapt themselves to the side effects of dextromethorphan and became dependent on its consumption. The effect of the drug quickly and linearly decreased after weaning, becoming very weak after 4 – 6 hours and null after 10 – 12 hours. Dextromethorphan led to dependence, what can also occur in humans. Being safer than previously used cough drugs, dextromethorphan can be consumed for treating dry cough, but in order to prevent dependence, should be used only at therapeutic doses and during a limited time.

scholarly journals Ethological and physiological side effects of oxybutynin studied on ants as models

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 4-16
Author(s):  
Marie-Claire Cammaerts ◽  
Roger Cammaerts
Keyword(s):  
Urinary Incontinence ◽  
Side Effects ◽  
Adverse Effects ◽  
Food Consumption ◽  
Social Relationships ◽  
Tactile Perception ◽  
Efficacy And Safety ◽  
Consumption Activity ◽  
Orientation Ability

Patients suffering from urinary incontinence are still nowadays mostly treated with oxybutynin. Using ants as models, we found that this drug decreased their food consumption, orientation ability, tactile perception, cognition and memory, induced restlessness and stress, impacted their social relationships and leaded to dependence. No adaptation occurred to these side effects. The action of oxybutynin quickly vanished in 10 hours. Most of these side effects corresponded to those observed in humans (on whom effects on food consumption, activity, cognition and anxiousness can be observed), and some others were observed in ants (impact on social relationships, dependence on the drug and absence of adaptation to its side effects). Ants appear thus to be valuable models for revealing side effects of a drug. On the basis of our results and of those reported in the literature, it can be concluded that patients treated with oxybutynin should be carefully monitored as for their risk of developing adverse effects, even unexpected ones. Novel, safer medicines, presenting a better balance between efficacy and safety should be researched.

scholarly journals Side effects of drugs studied on ant models: a mini review

2022 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 191-197
Author(s):  
Marie-Claire Cammaerts
Keyword(s):  
Side Effects ◽  
Social Relationships ◽  
Sensory Perception ◽  
Biological Models ◽  
The Social

Using ants as models, we studied until now the side effects of 47 products used by humans and, over these studies we published five summaries of our main findings. After that, we studied the side effects of six other drugs used by humans, and we here summarize these lastly obtained results. These six other drugs were dextromethorphan, amitriptylin, escitalopram, fluvoxamine, iverectin, and indapamide. For each of them, we found side effects similar to those reported for humans, but we also observed side effects not yet mentioned for humans. They concerned among others the locomotion, the activity, the sensory perception, the social relationships and the learning. Practitioners and pharmacists should take cognizance of our works for more adequately and safely used the six drugs we examined. Our six works are published and thus available, but they can also be provided by the author(s). All over our studies, ants appeared to be excellent biological models; the experiments could be made easily, rapidly and at lost cost, while providing statistically significant results.

Cutaneous ulcers following hydroxyurea therapy

Phlebologie ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 33 (06) ◽  
pp. 202-205 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Hartmann ◽  
S. Nagel ◽  
T. Erichsen ◽  
E. Rabe ◽  
K. H. Grips ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Side Effects ◽  
Side Effect ◽  
Antineoplastic Agent ◽  
Limited Time ◽  
Myeloproliferative Diseases ◽  
Dermatological Side Effects ◽  
Chronic Myeloproliferative Diseases ◽  
Hydroxyurea Therapy

SummaryHydroxyurea (HU) is usually a well tolerated antineoplastic agent and is commonly used in the treatment of chronic myeloproliferative diseases. Dermatological side effects are frequently seen in patients receiving longterm HU therapy. Cutaneous ulcers have been reported occasionally.We report on four patients with cutaneous ulcers whilst on long-term hydroxyurea therapy for myeloproliferative diseases. In all patients we were able to reduce the dose, or stop HU altogether and their ulcers markedly improved. Our observations suggest that cutaneous ulcers should be considered as possible side effect of long-term HU therapy and healing of the ulcers can be achieved not only by cessation of the HU treatment, but also by reducing the dose of hydroxyurea for a limited time.

Tuning Down the Pain – An Overview of Allosteric Modulation of Opioid Receptors: Mechanisms of Modulation, Allosteric Sites, Modulator Syntheses

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (31) ◽  
pp. 2852-2865 ◽  
Author(s):  
Damian Bartuzi ◽  
Tomasz M. Wróbel ◽  
Agnieszka A. Kaczor ◽  
Dariusz Matosiuk
Keyword(s):  
Side Effects ◽  
Opioid Receptors ◽  
Pain Perception ◽  
Allosteric Modulation ◽  
Allosteric Modulators ◽  
Signaling Mechanisms ◽  
Main Target ◽  
Allosteric Sites ◽  
Biased Signaling ◽  
Opioid Signaling

Opioid signaling plays a central role in pain perception. As such, it remains the main target in the development of antinociceptive agents, despite serious side effects involved. In recent years, hopes for improved opioid painkillers are rising, together with our understanding of allosterism and biased signaling mechanisms. In this review, we focus on recently discovered allosteric modulators of opioid receptors, insights into phenomena underlying their action, as well as on how they extend our understanding of mechanisms of previously known compounds. A brief overlook of their synthesis is also presented.

Guidelines for treating depressive illness with antidepressants: A statement from the British Association for Psychopharmacology

1993 ◽  
Vol 7 (1_suppl) ◽  
pp. 19-23 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stuart A. Montgomery ◽  
P. Bebbington ◽  
P. Cowen ◽  
W. Deakin ◽  
P. Freeling ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Side Effects ◽  
Depressed Mood ◽  
Antidepressant Treatment ◽  
Depressive Illness ◽  
Social Impairment ◽  
Self Blame ◽  
The Core ◽  
The Right ◽  
Therapeutic Doses ◽  
Core Symptoms

Depression is a common illness which affects some 3% of the population per year. At least 25% of those with marked depression do not consult their general practitioner and in half of those who do the illness is not detected. Depression is easy to recognize when four or five of the core symptoms have been present for 2 weeks which often coincides with some occupational and social impairment. The core symptoms are depressed mood, loss of interest or pleasure, loss of energy or fatigue, concentration difficulties, appetite disturbance, sleep disturbance, agitation or retardation, worthlessness or self blame and suicidal thoughts. A diagnosis of depression is made when five of these core symptoms, one of which should be depressed mood or loss of interest or pleasure, have been present for 2 weeks. Four core symptoms are probably sufficient. Response to antidepressants is good in those with more than mild symptoms. When there are only few or very mild depressive symptoms evidence of response to antidepressants is more uncertain. Antidepressants are effective, they are not addictive and do not lose efficacy with prolonged use. The newer antidepressants have fewer side effects than the older tricyclics, they are better tolerated and lead to less withdrawals from treatment. They are less cardiotoxic and are safer in overdose. Antidepressants should be used at full therapeutic doses. Treatment failure is often due to too low a dose being used in general practice. It may be difficult to reach the right dose with the older tricyclics because of side effects. To consolidate response, treatment should be continued for at least 4 months after the patient is apparently well. Stopping the treatment before this is ill-advised as the partially treated depression frequently returns. Most depression is recurrent. Long-term antidepressant treatment is effective in reducing the risk of new episodes of depression and should be continued to keep the patient well.

Toxic Effects of Anticonvulsants: General Principles

PEDIATRICS ◽  
1974 ◽  
Vol 53 (4) ◽  
pp. 551-557
Author(s):  
H. Hooshmand
Keyword(s):  
Drug Interaction ◽  
Side Effects ◽  
Toxic Effects ◽  
Multiple Drug ◽  
Severe Ataxia ◽  
Multiple Drug Therapy ◽  
Toxic Potential ◽  
Therapeutic Doses ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
The Relationship

Any drug, regardless of how benign and well tolerated, is potentially toxic. The toxicity may be due to (1) dosage; (2) the size of the patient; (3) drug interaction; (4) drug specificity for the disease; (5) the nature of the disease for which the drug is used; and (6) the mode and frequency of medication. DOSE OF ANTICONVULSANT Dose of anficonvulsant is very important (Table I). Any anticonvulsant in higher than therapeutic doses has toxic potential. It is well known that anticonvulsants in large enough doses can act as convulsants. This is especially true for diphenylhydantoin, benzodiazepines, and lidocaine. THE SIZE OF THE PATIENT The size of the patient should be considered in dosage. It is safer and more accurate to adjust dosage to body surface than to weight (Table I). As the child grows, there may be a need to gradually increase the dose of anticonvulsants if seizure control is poor, or if the serum level of the anticonvulsant starts to decline. DRUG INTERACTION The relationship. of multiple drug therapy and its toxic effects on the brain is quite complicated, and many forms of toxicity can result. Toxicity may be the result of a combination of pharmacologically similar drugs. Such a combination may enhance the side effects of drowsiness and ataxia. The patient may suffer from these side effects without attaining therapeutic levels of individual anticonvulsants in the blood. In other words, a combination of drugs such as phenobarbital and primidone may result in severe ataxia and drowsiness.

Thiethylperazine (Torecan)-Associated Dystonic Reactions in Children

PEDIATRICS ◽  
1979 ◽  
Vol 64 (6) ◽  
pp. 954-955
Author(s):  
Peter G. Lacouture ◽  
Allen A. Mitchell ◽  
Frederick H. Lovejoy
Keyword(s):  
Side Effects ◽  
Symptomatic Relief ◽  
Nausea And Vomiting ◽  
Extrapyramidal Side Effects ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Parkinsonian Syndromes ◽  
Therapeutic Doses

The phenothiazines are probably the most commonly used medications for the symptomatic relief of nausea and vomiting and may be effective irrespective of the primary cause.1,2 Along with their beneficial effects, these agents carry with them a risk of extrapyramidal side effects which may appear as parkinsonian syndromes, akathisias, acute dystonic reactions, and tardive dyskinesias.3 syptoympttoms commonly associated with acute dysic reactionsns with phenothiazines include oculogyri crisis, torticollis, trismus, facial grimace, protusion of the tongue, hyperreflexia, opisthotonos, and rigidity. The majority of these reactions have been reported in children taking the drugs in therapeutic doses.4-6 We wish to report four cases of acute dystonic reactions occurring in association with thiethylperazine (Torecan), a phenothiazine that has recently experienced increased pediatric usage.

Pain Perception and Side Effects During Saline Infusion Sonohysterography With a Balloon Catheter

2020 ◽  
Vol 39 (9) ◽  
pp. 1829-1837
Author(s):  
Firoozeh Ahmadi ◽  
Nadia Jahangiri ◽  
Fatemeh Zafarani ◽  
Ahmad Vosough
Keyword(s):  
Side Effects ◽  
Pain Perception ◽  
Balloon Catheter ◽  
Saline Infusion ◽  
Saline Infusion Sonohysterography

scholarly journals Treatment of Postanoxic Intention Myoclonus with Valproic Acid

1979 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 39-42 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Bruni ◽  
L.J. Willmore ◽  
B.J. Wilder
Keyword(s):  
Valproic Acid ◽  
Side Effects ◽  
Plasma Levels ◽  
Marked Improvement ◽  
Hepatic Function ◽  
Function Tests ◽  
Therapeutic Doses

SummaryValproic acid in therapeutic doses was used in the treatment of postanoxic intention myoclonus. Disappearance of the myoclonus occurred with marked improvement in the electroencephalogram. No significant side effects were noted. Hepatic function tests were monitored. Determination of valproic acid plasma levels was used to guide therapy. Levels above 55 ßg were generally required. The patient remains free of myoclonus after four and one half months.

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