Pharmacokinetic Profiles of Digoxin and Digitoxin

Digoxin immune fab, an antibody fragment, is used in potentially life-threatening digoxin or digitoxin intoxication. 

Hydralazine and nitrates have been used in patients with CHF. An ACE inhibitor such as lisinopril increases the left-ventricular ejection fraction in patients with CHF, and the 

Most narcotics such as morphine, codeine, dihydroco-deinone, methadone, and levorphanol have antitussive properties. Codeine is used primarily because its addictive liability is low and it is effective orally. The antitussive doses of narcotics are lower than the doses used for analgesic purposes. 

This group consists of cyclosporin A and dihydrocyclosporin C. Cyclosporin A, a fungal metabolite, is a cyclic polypeptide that consists of 11 amino acids. It has a biologic half-life of 4 to 6 hours and displays a preferential T-ceU cytotoxic property, in that it inhibits the factors that stimulate T-lym-phocyte proliferation. Cyclosporin A has been used as the sole immunosuppressant (without prednisone or other drugs) for cadaveric transplants of the kidney, pancreas, and liver. Cyclosporin A has been observed to cause reversible hepatic toxicity and nephrotoxicity. Another fungal metabolite, dihydrocyclosporin C is even more selective than cyclosporin A, in that it suppresses T-lymphocy te production with only marginal effects on the antibody response. 

Dihydroemetine is given for 5 days and effects rapid relief of the symptoms of acute amebic dysentery. The patient is then switched to metronidazole. If the response to metronidazole is not satisfactory, dihydroemetine plus tetracycline or dihydroemetine plus paromomycin are given along with the metronidazole. 

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