Associate Professor of Therapeutics and enthusiastic teacher of all things prescribing. Author of the '7 days of ...drug (various) series. Tweets are all my own
Jan 2, 2020 • 8 tweets • 3 min read
New series #clarithromycin. Day 1. 1st macrolide antibiotic erythromycin was isolated from streptomyces erythraeus
in 1952. #clarithromycin is a semi-synthetic derivative, marketed in the 90s, with ↑ bioavailability, longer t½ & a superior ADR profile, especially re GI issues.
(cont) #clarithromycin has greater lipophilicity allowing ↑ penetration into lung tissue & enhanced treatment of intracellular pathogens i.e. H. influenzae
Apr 2, 2019 • 6 tweets • 3 min read
Series 8 starting today #ramipril Day 1:The concept for the 1st angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) was derived from snake venom in the 1950s. An orally active version was eventually found & captopril was licensed in 1981 for hypertension & heart failure #prescribing
Day 1 #ramipril (cont): Improved ‘me too’ ACEI versions followed, such as #ramipril, approved in the UK in 1989. Captopril now out-moded, but still used in paediatrics #prescribing
