ABSTRACT
Cannabis sativa (marihuana) is considered an illicit drug due to its psychoactive properties. Recently, the Chilean government opened to the use cannabis in the symptomatic treatment of some patients. The biological effects of cannabis render it useful for the complementary treatment of specific clinical situations such as chronic pain. We retrieved scientific information about the analgesic properties of cannabis, using it as a safe drug. The drug may block or inhibit the transmission of nervous impulses at different levels, an effect associated with pain control. Within this context and using adequate doses, forms and administration pathways, it can be used for chronic pain management, considering its effectiveness and low cost. It could also be considered as an alternative in patients receiving prolonged analgesic therapies with multiple adverse effects.
Subject(s)
Humans , Cannabis/chemistry , Plant Extracts/therapeutic use , Chronic Pain/drug therapy , Analgesics/therapeutic use , ChileABSTRACT
Background: The different therapeutic schedules used for the prescription of digoxin have little theoretical support. Aim: To measure digoxin plasma levels in patients using four different prescription schedules. Patients and methods: Four groups of patients were studied. Group I corresponded to 56 patients taking digoxin 0.25 mg/day, from Monday to Friday. Group II corresponded to 30 patients taking digoxin 0.25 mg/day, from Monday to Saturday. Group III corresponded to 53 patients taking digoxin 0.25 mg/day continuosly. Group IV corresponded to 36 patients taking digoxin 0.125 mg/day continuosly. Plasma digoxin levels were measured in two consecutive Mondays before taking the daily dose of the drug. Serum creatinine was also measured and creatinine clearance was calculated. The therapeutic plasma concentration range was set between 0.5 and 2 ng/ml. Results: Mean plasma digoxin levels were 1.15±0.8 ng/ml in group I, 1.4±0.55 ng/ml in group II, 1.68±0.7 ng/ml in group III and 1.14±0.43 ng/ml in group IV. 93 percent of patients in group I, 80 percent of patients in group I, 80 percent of patients in group II, 75 percent of patients in group III and 94 percent of patients in group IV had therapeutic digoxin levels. A low creatinine clearance, an age over 65 and interactions with other drugs were risk factors associated with supratherapeutic levels, mostly seen in group II and group III with 20 percent and 24 percent respectively. Conclusions: Most patients using digoxin with different therapeutic schedules had plasma drug levels within the therapeutic range
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Middle Aged , Digoxin , Atrial Fibrillation/drug therapy , Digoxin , Drug Interactions , Amiodarone , Hospitals, State , Cardiotonic Agents/pharmacokinetics , Cardiotonic Agents/bloodABSTRACT
Se presenta el caso clínico de una escolar portadora de una pleuroneumonia derecha en tratamiento con ceftriaxona que presentó dolor en el hipocondrio derecho y vesícula palpable 60 horas después de la administración de tres dosis terapéuticas de la droga. El estudio ecográfico abdominal reveló la presencia de pseudolitiásis o barro biliar. La suspensión del medicamento permitió una remisión rápida de la sintomatología biliar y un control ecográfico alejado mostró la normalización de la vesícula biliar. Además se describen y discuten la reversibilidad de los síntomas biliares y las anomalías ecográficas de la pseudolitiasis inducida por ceftriaxona