New approach for management of impotence

A new type of topically applied drug [Eroderm-3 cream] for impotence was presented. Eroderm-3 cream contains vasoactive drug that had the ability to penetrate the penile cutaneous issue and facilitate erection. In this study, the usefulness of Eroderm-3 was examined in the treatment of erectile dysfunction. Eroderm-3 contains co- dergocrine mesilate, aminophylline and isosorbide dinitrate. A randomized double-blind controlled trial on 36 patients was performed after the etiology of impotence was investigated. All patients received Eroderm-3 and placebo cream. The patients were randomly divided into two groups each of eighteen patients. The first group received Eroderm-3 in the first month and placebo cream in the second month, while the second group received placebo in the first month and Eroderm-3 in the second month. The patients were advised to apply the cream on the penile shaft quarter of an hour before sexual stimulation and intercourse. The patients reported their experience via questionnaire. Twenty-one patients reported full erection and satisfactory intercourse, two patients reported partial erection and four patients reported just tumescence. Three patients reported full erection and satisfactory intercourse with either cream, while neither Eroderm-3 nor placebo cream produced a noticeable response in nine patients. The highest activity proved to occur in psychogenic impotence, while less rate of success was observed in patients with venous leakage. Laboratory testing of Eroderm-3 showed a high activity in increasing penile arterial flow and induced tumescence in 61% of patients. No marked side effects were recorded

Effects of cyproheptadine on morphine withdrawal signs

The relative importance of serotonergic pathway to the precipitation of abstinence signs was examined in rats using chronic model of morphine dependence. The signs of withdrawal were precipitated by administration of naloxone HCl. Several signs of opiate withdrawal were blocked or attenuated by cyproheptadine, while others were unaffected by this serotonin antagonist. It blocked naloxone- precipitated weight loss and significantly reduced the frequencies of animals exhibiting diarrhea, urination and wet dog shakes. However, cyproheptadine failed to alter significantly the proportion of animals showing jumping, teeth chattering, rhinorrhea and ptosis. These results suggested that the serotonergic system might be an important component in the mechanisms that mediate morphine abstinence syndrome

Does butorphanol produce interaction with monoamine oxidase inhibitors [tranylcypromine]? comparative experimental study with pethidine

This study demonstrated the possibility of the interaction between tranylcypromine and butorphanol compared with pethidine. The LD50 of pethidine and butorphanol were determined in mice pretreated either with nonselective monoamine oxidase [MAO] inhibitors, tranylcypromine orally for eight days or with saline orally. Tranylcypromine decreased the LD50 of both pethidine and butorphanol by 70% and 41%, respectively. Anesthetized rabbits with halothane pretreated either with tranylcypromine or saline were given pethidine 5 mg/kg iv or butorphanol 0.5, 1 and 2 mg/kg iv, pethidine produced a marked increase in blood pressure in rabbits pretreated with tranylcypromine and did not affect significantly the heart rate. However, butorphanol did not affect either blood pressure or heart rate at dose of 0.5 or 1 mg/kg, but the largest dose of butorphanol [2mg/kg] produced hypotension and tachycardia in rabbits pretreated with tranylcypromine. Neither pethidine nor butorphanol affected the temperature of anesthetized rabbits pretreated with tranylcypromine or saline