Symptomatic treatment symptoms

At this writing anticholinergic agents are not widely used for the symptomatic treatment of asthma, although compounds such as atropine [51 -55-8] C17H23NO3, (18) have been used for centuries (111). Inhalation of the smoke produced by burning herbal mixtures, such as Datura Stramonium provided bronchodilation and rehef from some of the symptoms of asthma. The major active component in these preparations was atropine or other closely related alkaloids (qv). 

In 58 percent of cases, symptomatic treatment with Valium, pheno-barbital, or paregoric, for a period ranging from 2 to 14 days, was required to control drug effects. However, in 42 percent of the cases, symptoms were successfully managed with more conserva-... 

Symptomatic treatment focuses on minimizing the withdrawal symptoms to help patients be as comfortable as possible (Tables 33-6 through 33-8). This is combined with the use of methadone or buprenorphine (Suboxone or Subutex ) to suppress the withdrawal symptoms by providing a p opioid full or partial agonist in a tapering dose schedule within a controlled environment. 

These symptoms are consistent with the pharmacological action and usually appear in the order of nausea, chest pains, blurred vision. Removal from exposure and symptomatic treatment have thus far been followed by rapid abatement of symptoms. 

Antimicrobial therapy is used to treat otitis media however, a high percentage of children will be cured with symptomatic treatment alone. Antibiotic use reduces the duration of symptoms by about 1 day. 

Prior to the 1940s almost all pharmacotherapy conducted by physicians is merely the alleviation of symptoms of disease and causal treatment consisted mostly of surgical interventions. It is only that after the development of antiparasitic agents and an-tiinfectives, like salvarsan and later penicillin, that causal treatment was known and that the understanding was induced that if possible, a disease should be treated at its root (causal treatment) in favor of symptomatically. This created the insight that causal treatment bears more weight compared to symptomatic treatment. 

Symptomatic treatment still is an important treatment modality, and should be regarded as equally important as causal treatment. When one neglects symptoms or treat them inappropriately it may result in aggravation of the situation. On the other hand, treatment of all symptoms a patient may have, especially excessive treatment, will increase the risk of adverse reactions, which eventually could be dangerous. The guidance given in this chapter will discuss the drugs of choice for the use in symptoms seen... 

In addition symptomatic treatment with opiates, with bile acid binding resins in those with bile acid malabsorption, with milk free diets in those who are lactose intolerant, and with low fat diets may materially help relevant symptoms. 

Amantadine has a long history in the symptomatic treatment of Parkinson s disease. Several recent double-blind, placebo-controlled studies have confirmed the impressive acute antidyskinetic effects of amantadine (Rajput et al. 1998 Verhagen Metman et al. 1998 Luginger et al. 2000 Del Dotto et al. 2001 Shoghi-Jadid et al. 2002). One study also indicates that amantadine s antidyskinetic benefit is maintained for at least 1 year (Metman et al. 1999). The related compound memantine was found, as in the MPTP monkey, to have no effect on dyskinesia in a double-blind study but it did improve parkinsonian symptoms (Merello et al. 1999). This indicates that the antidyskinetic effects of amantadine may be unrelated to NMDA receptor antagonism (Danysz et al. 1997). 

In the case slight allergies ARIA recommends symptomatic treatment [7], On the other hand, the shorter the period of time during which the disease persists and the slighter the symptoms are, the higher the efficacy of immunotherapies seems to be. It will be necessary to study further whether local immunotherapies are able to prevent the risk of additional sensitizations and the aggravation of the state of disease, as is shown for subcutaneous immunotherapy [17]. Such considerations may influence the view on the onset of immunotherapies. 

As in WWI, WWn recommendations aimed at the relief of symptoms, the control of the lesion, and the prevention of secondary infections and complications. The patient was to be reassured he would not be blinded by the medical practitioner opening his eyelids. Bandages were not to be used. Symptomatic treatment of conjunctivitis was to be treated with irrigation, often with sodium bicarbonate solution (Sorsby, 1939 Cowell, 1939 Bickerton, 1940). Caster oil drops or liquid paraffin drops were thought to be helpful. First-aid treatment with cod-liver oil was felt to do no harm and had been found to give immediate pain relief. It also smoothed comeal roughness and eased lacrimation in... 

Mild gastrointestinal symptoms have sometimes occurred (nausea, accelerated intestinal transit) but they regress spontaneously or after symptomatic treatment (2,3). 

A multicenter trial in 353 patients assessed the efficacy and tolerance of sodium alginate (four 10 ml sachets a day) compared with cisapride (5 mg qds) in the symptomatic treatment of uncomplicated gastro-esophageal reflux without severe esophagitis (21). Sodium alginate, which costs less than cisapride, was more effective in relieving symptoms. Adverse effects were rare and not serious. Constipation was the most common adverse effect of alginate while diarrhea was the commonest adverse effect of cisapride. 

In cases of ingestion exposure, the patient should be carefully monitored for the development of any systemic signs or symptoms and symptomatic treatment should be provided as necessary. In cases of inhalation exposure, the victim should be moved to... 

For ingestion of plant material, symptomatic treatment consists of dilution with cool liquids. Ingestions rarely cause any symptoms aside from minor, selflimited gastrointestinal effects. Dermal exposures are treated with irrigation and local skin care. 

There is no specific treatment for tannic acid toxicity. Supportive and symptomatic treatment is recommended. Liver function should be monitored in patients with gastrointestinal symptoms. 

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