Clinical Pharmacology of Alpha-1 Blockers Improving Drug-profile through Novel Formulations.

Clinical pharmacology is an essential consideration in chronic therapies, and may play a significant role in modifying the pharmacological characteristics of drug formulations. Improvement in drug formulations may ensure their safe and effective use over a period of time. This has been particularly observed with α-1 adrenergic blockers in hypertension management. Advancements in formulations like prazosin GITS, have resulted in improvement in tolerability profile and smoother, more effective blood pressure control, which reasonably translate into improvement in patient compliance and better clinical outcomes.

Anti-inflammatory effect of the serratiopeptidase--rationale or fashionable: a study in rat paw oedema model induced by the carrageenan.

INTRODUCTION: Many drugs, including serratiopeptidases, are marketed without proven efficacy in clinical trials. It is protein in nature and claimed to be effective orally. METHODS: 24 albino wistar rats, 6 each in following groups were assigned--(1) Control group (distilled water, orally) (2) Diclofenac (6.75 mg/kg, IP) (3) serratiopeptidase (5.4 mg/kg, orally) (4) Combination of serratiopeptidase (5.4 mg/kg, orally) and diclofenac (2.25 mg/kg, IP). Inflammatory agent, carrageenan (0.1 ml of 1% w/v) was injected subcutaneously in the ether anesthetized rat hind paw, half an hour after the administration of drug. Rat paw volume up to lateral malleolar process was recorded with plethysmometer at various time periods. RESULTS: Percentage formation and inhibition of oedema in serratiopeptidase or combination groups were not significantly different than control group. Both were significantly less for diclofenac group. CONCLUSION: Serratiopeptidase was not effective in this animal model of oedema/inflammation.