ABSTRACT
Flunarizine, a potent calcium channel blocker has been used for more than three decades for the prophylactic management of migraine. Theories suggest that flunarizine may act through multiple mechanisms such as inhibition of cortical spreading depression, neurogenic inflammation and channelopathy. Flunarizine is efficacious in the management of various types of migraines such as common, classical, vestibular, abdominal, hemiplegic and pediatric migraine. It has a manageable safety profile with weight gain and drowsiness being commonly reported.
ABSTRACT
Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a disease of the whole knee joint occurring due to an interaction between inflammatory, hypoxic, and mechanical pathways. Initial management includes monotherapy with analgesics or anti‑inflammatory agents, eventually switching over to combination therapy with steroids and/or newer drugs. Cardiovascular risks associated with non‑steroidal anti‑inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) limit their long term use. Hence, novel target receptors or pathways, which remain unaffected by conventional therapy and modify disease are being increasingly looked for. Newer drugs such as glucosamine, chondroitin, methylsulfonylmethane, diacerein along with vitamins/minerals are commonly used as adjuncts to NSAIDs or as monotherapy. Because of their novel mechanisms of action and better safety profile they seem to be promising as disease modifying agents in the treatment of OA. Google, PubMed, Cochrane databases and Science Direct search was performed, and relevant articles were identified. This review focuses on the pathological targets which these drugs modify in order to bring about a symptom modifying effect.
ABSTRACT
Objective: India’s pharmaceutical industry is now the third largest in the world in terms of volume. With this growth, various drugs with catchy brand names have been introduced. The potential for error due to confusing drug names amongst the healthcare personnel is significant. Numerous case reports and studies have thrown light on the confusion over similar drug names. Despite these efforts, new names that are similar to the existing names continue to be approved. Aim: The study was carried out to isolate confusing brand names, which are used currently in the Indian market and to categorize these names depending on their effect on therapeutic success. Material and methods: Recent issue of the drug formulary Indian Drug Review (IDR) (Vol. XVII Issue No. 2, March-April 2011) was referred to and all the potentially confusing brand names were analyzed. Results: Many of the brand names were similar looking (orthographic) and similar sounding (phonetic). Certain observations regarding brand naming techniques and their possible implications were noted. Conclusion: The Indian pharmaceutical industry is growing at a fast pace. Hence, India needs a competent Medication Error Reporting Program to report the brand name confusion. Also, we need to create more awareness about confusing brand names and their implications.