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Pallavi Singh's Profile
M. Pharmacy (Pharmacy Practice)
Pallavi has completed her masters in Pharmacy from Vels University, Chennai. She has worked as a Scientific Content Writer and also as a Scientific Analyst. Her hobbies include exploring new drugs and inventions in the Pharma and medical fields. She is a certified singer and dancer, who also enjoys view more..
Written / Edited / Medically Reviewed
Pitofenone
Pitofenone(Spasmalgon) generic Pitofenone is an antispasmodic (spasmolytic) drug that is used to relieve pain and spasms of smooth muscles. It works by suppressing the muscle spasms and then relaxing the muscles of the stomach, intestine or urinary bladder. Pitofenone is also used for the treatment of back pain , sprains, and strains. Pitofenone is used in combination along with fenpiverinium bromide, and metamizole sodium. The drug is currently sold in Eastern Europe and India under various trade names. The combined preparation possesses strong analgesic, spasmolytic, cholinolytic and anti-inflammatory effects on the smooth muscles predominantly of the gastrointestinal and urogenital tract. Indications are strong pain in gastric or intestinal colic, kidney and gallstones , and for painful menstruation. Pitofenone hydrochloride present in the combination exerts papaverin-like spasmolytic effect on the vascular and extra-vascular smooth muscles of the stomach, intestines, urinary tract, biliary tract, and uterus. As of 2005, any combined preparation containing a spasmolytic drug like pitofenone and metamizole must include a boxed warning that the use of the drug is not recommended in children and adolescents under the age of 18 years. Also, it can be used only for short-term treatment of severe pains caused by smooth muscles’ spasm where other therapy shows ineffectiveness.
Naftopidil
Naftopidil(Spasmalgon) generic Naftopidil is a selective α1-adrenergic receptor antagonist or alpha blocker. Naftopidil is prescribed in Japan for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and benign prostatic obstruction, associated with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), hypertension , cardiac valve disease, and distal ureteral stones. Further large-scale, randomized, placebo-controlled studies need to be done to see if the naftopidil efficacy and safety data that is applicable to Japanese can be extended to white, black and Hispanic men having LUTS/BPH in western countries.
Pholcodine
Pholcodine(Spasmalgon) generic Pholcodine is prescribed as a cough suppressant (antitussive) and helps to suppress unproductive coughs. It also has mild sedative effects but little or no analgesic effects. The drug is used to relieve a dry cough that does not produce any mucus. Pholcodine acts primarily by causing depression of the cough reflex, partly by a direct effect on the cough center in the medulla. It is also known as homocodeine.
Melitracen
Melitracen(Spasmalgon) generic Melitracen is prescribed to treat depression and anxiety. It is also available as a combination drug along with flupentixol which is indicated for different types of depression (psychogenic, masked, menopausal, in alcoholics), depressive neuroses, psychosomatic affections accompanied by anxiety and apathy, and dysphoria in alcoholics. It is also given as a maintenance dose in psychogenic depressions and other psychoses. Melitracen comes under the category of tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) which act by decreasing re-uptake of neurotransmitters like norepinephrine and serotonin at the nerve synapse. This causes a high concentration of the neurotransmitters in the next neuron causing an antidepressant effect. Melitracen acts similarly as other TCAs regarding efficacy against depression and anxiety. It has an added advantage of improved tolerability and a slightly faster onset of action.
Diphenoxylate
Diphenoxylate(Spasmalgon) generic Diphenoxylate reduces the frequent bowel movement. It is usually available in combination with atropine to prevent abuse.
