Pharmacological analysis of positive chronotropic and inotropic responses to etilefrine in isolated dog heart preparations

Preparation and evaluation of fast-dissolving films of etilefrine hydrochloride for practical buccal dosing

Etilefrine hydrochloride (ET) is an important drug in the treatment of hypotension, and parenteral injections and oral tablets are the conventional dosage forms. However, parenteral injections may cause abnormally high plasma levels as well as pain and necrosis, and oral tablets undergo first-pass metabolism. Although fast-dissolving buccal tablets were previously reported, the initial absorption rate was a little slow and the plasma levels were varied extensively. Recently, many films have been developed as novel dosage forms. Therefore, in the present study, film dosage forms containing ET were produced using water-soluble polymers and glycerin (GLY) as excipients to obtain a practical buccal dosage form. Films composed of ET, GLY, and sodium alginate (AL) exhibited good physical characteristics and rapid release in vitro (more than 70% at 2 min). The compacted AL film containing 2 mg ET (1 × 1 cm) exhibited rapid absorption (>19 ng/mL at 0.5 h), maintained an effective plasma level (>7 ng/mL) for a long time period (0.5-4 h), and had an adequate plasma concentration-time profile with a smaller standard error (<15.3 ng/mL). These results suggest that the present compacted buccal film is a superior dosage form of ET for practical use.

Preparation of orally fast-dissolving tablets of etilefrine hydrochloride to achieve efficient absorption

Etilefrine hydrochloride (ET) is commonly used in the treatment of hypotension in dosage forms of oral tablets and parenteral injections. However, oral tablets only temporarily achieve high plasma levels and have low bioavailability (BA), while intravenous injections may cause pain and necrosis around administration sites. In an attempt to overcome these limitations, the buccal delivery of ET using oral droplets has been investigated. In this study, a buccal tablet as an alternative dosage form was developed for practical use. Buccal tablets were prepared by the direct compression method with sodium alginate (AL) and mannitol (MA) as excipients. Their disintegration and in vitro drug release were rapid (more than 50% being released after 3 min). Furthermore, effective plasma levels (> 5-7 ng/mL) were reached within 0.5 h of buccal administration in rats. The systemic absorption of these tablets was similar to that of buccal droplets. Therefore, the ET buccal tablets developed herein have potential as an alternative dosage form for hypotension therapy.

Pharmacology of stimulants prohibited by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)

This review examines the pharmacology of stimulants prohibited by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Stimulants that increase alertness/reduce fatigue or activate the cardiovascular system can include drugs like ephedrine available in many over-the-counter medicines. Others such as amphetamines, cocaine and hallucinogenic drugs, available on prescription or illegally, can modify mood. A total of 62 stimulants (61 chemical entities) are listed in the WADA List, prohibited in competition. Athletes may have stimulants in their body for one of three main reasons: inadvertent consumption in a propriety medicine; deliberate consumption for misuse as a recreational drug and deliberate consumption to enhance performance. The majority of stimulants on the list act on the monoaminergic systems: adrenergic (sympathetic, transmitter noradrenaline), dopaminergic (transmitter dopamine) and serotonergic (transmitter serotonin, 5-HT). Sympathomimetic describes agents, which mimic sympathetic responses, and dopaminomimetic and serotoninomimetic can be used to describe actions on the dopamine and serotonin systems. However, many agents act to mimic more than one of these monoamines, so that a collective term of monoaminomimetic may be useful. Monoaminomimietic actions of stimulants can include blockade of re-uptake of neurotransmitter, indirect release of neurotransmitter, direct activation of monoaminergic receptors. Many of the stimulants are amphetamines or amphetamine derivatives, including agents with abuse potential as recreational drugs. A number of agents are metabolized to amphetamine or metamphetamine. In addition to the monoaminomimetic agents, a small number of agents with different modes of action are on the list. A number of commonly used stimulants are not considered as Prohibited Substances.