Fluprednisolone is glucocorticoid with the general properties of the corticosteroids. It is the drug of choice for all conditions in which routine systemic corticosteroid therapy is indicated (hypersensitivity dermatoses, contact dermatitis, pemphigus, pemphigoid, lupus erythematosus, neoplasia etc), except adrenal deficiency states.

Clemizole is a drug in clinical development for the treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Clemizole is a novel inhibitor of TRPC5 channels. Clemizole is an H1 antagonist. Clemizole, an antihistamine drug that was once widely used for treatment of allergic disease, was recently discovered to be a potent inhibitor (IC50, 24 nM) of the interaction between an HCV protein (NS4B) and HCV RNA. Although clemizole was widely used during the 1950s and 1960s, this was before contemporary regulatory requirements were established for new drug development, and there is very minimal information about its pharmacokinetics and metabolism.

Aminoglutethimide, marketing as Cytadren has been used in the treatment of advanced breast and prostate cancer. It was formerly used for its weak anticonvulsant properties. Cytadren is indicated for the suppression of adrenal function in selected patients with Cushing’s syndrome. Morning levels of plasma cortisol in patients with adrenal carcinoma and ectopic ACTH producing tumors were reduced on the average to about one half of the pretreatment levels, and in patients with adrenal hyperplasia to about two thirds of the pretreatment levels, during 1-3 months of therapy with Cytadren. Data available from the few patients with adrenal adenoma suggest similar reductions in plasma cortisol levels. Measurements of plasma cortisol showed reductions to at least 50% of baseline or to normal levels in one third or more of the patients studied, depending on diagnostic groups and time of measurement. Because Cytadren does not affect the underlying disease process, it is used primarily as an interim measure until more definitive therapy such as surgery can be undertaken or in cases where such therapy is not appropriate. Only small numbers of patients have been treated for longer than 3 months. A decreased effect or “escape phenomenon” seems to occur more frequently in patients with pituitary dependent Cushing’s syndrome, probably because of increasing ACTH levels in response to decreasing glucocorticoid levels. Cytadren blocks several other steps in steroid synthesis, including the C-11, C-18, and C-21 hydroxylations and the hydroxylations required for the aromatization of androgens to estrogens, mediated through the binding of Cytadren to cytochrome P-450 complexes. A decrease in adrenal secretion of cortisol is followed by an increased secretion of pituitary adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), which will overcome the blockade of adrenocortical steroid synthesis by Cytadren. The compensatory increase in ACTH secretion can be suppressed by the simultaneous administration of hydrocortisone. Since Cytadren increases the rate of metabolism of dexamethasone but not that of hydrocortisone, the latter is preferred as the adrenal glucocorticoid replacement. Although Cytadren inhibits the synthesis of thyroxine by the thyroid gland, the compensatory increase in thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) is frequently of sufficient magnitude to overcome the inhibition of thyroid synthesis due to Cytadren. In spite of an increase in TSH, Cytadren has not been associated with increased prolactin secretion. At low doses, aminogluthethimide is only an effective inhibitor of aromatase (Cytochrome P450 11A1), but at higher doses, it effectively blocks Cytochrome P450 11A1 (P450scc) as well. Citadel was marketed previously as an anticonvulsant but was withdrawn from marketing for that indication in 1966 because of the effects on the adrenal gland.

Triparanol (brand and developmental code names MER/29) is a 24-dehydro cholesterol reductase inhibitor, which is an enzyme involved in the biosynthesis of cholesterol. It has antitumor properties, such as decreasing proliferation and inducing apoptosis in many cancer cell lines and slowing tumor growth in a mouse xenograft model. It can also decrease Hedgehog pathway signaling in cancer cells. Triparanol was the first synthetic cholesterol-lowering drug. It was withdrawn in 1962 due to severe adverse effects such as nausea and vomiting, vision loss due to irreversible cataracts, alopecia, skin disorders (e.g., dryness, itching, peeling, and "fish-scale" texture), and accelerated atherosclerosis and is now considered to be obsolete.

Oxethazaine is a potent local anesthetic. It is administered orally (usually in combination with an antacid) for the relief of pain associated with peptic ulcer disease or esophagitis. Its effectiveness at the acidity of the gastric environment is due to the fact that oxethazaine, a weak base, is relatively non-ionized at pH 1. It is also used topically in the management of hemorrhoid pain. Oral oxetacaine preparations are available in several countries, including India, South Africa and Brazil, but not the United States. It is marketed under the name Strocain in Japan.

Guanethidine belongs to the general class of medicines called antihypertensives. It was used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension). It is believed to act mainly by preventing the release of norepinephrine at nerve endings and causes depletion of norepinephrine in peripheral sympathetic nerve terminals as well as in tissues. It is taken up by norepinephrine transporters. It becomes concentrated in NE transmitter vesicles, replacing NE in these vesicles.

Bendroflumethiazide (INN), formerly bendrofluazide (BAN) is a thiazide diuretic used to treat hypertension. CORZIDE (Nadolol and Bendroflumethiazide Tablets) for oral administration combines two antihypertensive agents: CORGARD (nadolol), a nonselective beta-adrenergic blocking agent, and NATURETIN (bendroflumethiazide), a thiazide diuretic-antihypertensive. Bendroflumethiazide works by inhibiting sodium reabsorption at the beginning of the distal convoluted tubule (DCT). Bendroflumethiazide inhibits active chloride reabsorption at the early distal tubule via the Na-Cl cotransporter, resulting in an increase in the excretion of sodium, chloride, and water. Thiazides like bendroflumethiazide also inhibit sodium ion transport across the renal tubular epithelium through binding to the thiazide sensitive sodium-chloride transporter. This results in an increase in potassium excretion via the sodium-potassium exchange mechanism. The antihypertensive mechanism of bendroflumethiazide is less well understood although it may be mediated through its action on carbonic anhydrases in the smooth muscle or through its action on the large-conductance calcium-activated potassium (KCa) channel, also found in the smooth muscle. Thiazides do not affect normal blood pressure. Onset of action of thiazides occurs in two hours and the peak effect at about four hours. Duration of action persists for approximately six to 12 hours. Thiazides are eliminated rapidly by the kidney.

Biperiden, sold under the brandname Akineton was used as an adjunct in the therapy of all forms of parkinsonism (postencephalitic, arteriosclerotic and idiopathic). Was also useful in the control of extrapyramidal disorders due to central nervous system drugs such as phenothiazines and other groups of psychotropics. Biperiden is a weak peripheral anticholinergic agent. It has, therefore, some antisecretory, antispasmodic and mydriatic effects. In addition, biperiden possesses nicotinolytic activity. Parkinsonism is thought to result from an imbalance between the excitatory (cholinergic) and inhibitory (dopaminergic) systems in the corpus striatum. The mechanism of action of centrally active anticholinergic drugs such as biperiden is considered to relate to competitive antagonism of acetylcholine at cholinergic receptors in the corpus striatum, which then restores the balance. Atropine-like side effects such as dry mouth; blurred vision; drowsiness; euphoria or disorientation; urinary retention; postural hypotension; constipation; agitation; disturbed behavior may been seen. Only limited pharmacokinetic studies of biperiden in humans are available.

Phenformin is a biguanide hypoglycemic agent with actions and uses similar to those of metformin. It activates AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and inhibits mTORC1 signaling. Phenformin used for the treatment of diabetes. Phenformin was removed from the U.S. market 20 years ago because of a high incidence of lactic acidosis. Risk factors for the development of lactic acidosis include renal deficiency, hepatic disease, cardiac disease, and drug interaction such as cimetidine. Phenformin exerts potential anti-neoplastic action.

Sulfinpyrazone was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on May 13, 1959. It was developed and marketed as Anturane® by Novartis. Sulfinpyrazone is an oral uricosuric agent (pyrazolone derivative) used to treat chronic or intermittent gouty arthritis. Sulfinpyrazone competitively inhibits the reabsorption of uric acid at the proximal convoluted tubule, thereby facilitating urinary excretion of uric acid and decreasing plasma urate concentrations. This is likely done through inhibition of the urate anion transporter (hURAT1) as well as the human organic anion transporter 4 (hOAT4). Sulfinpyrazone is not intended for the treatment of acute attacks because it lacks therapeutically useful analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects. Sulfinpyrazone and its sulfide metabolite possess COX inhibitory effects. Sulfinpyrazone has also been shown to be a UDP-glucuronsyltransferase inhibitor and a very potent CYP2C9 inhibitor. Sulfinpyrazone is also known to be a cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) inhibitor as well as an inhibitor of several multridrug resistance proteins (MRPs). Branded and generic forms of sulfinpyrazone have been discontinued in the US.