Betamethasone and its derivatives, betamethasone sodium phosphate and betamethasone acetate, are synthetic glucocorticoids. Used for its antiinflammatory or immunosuppressive properties, betamethasone is combined with a mineralocorticoid to manage adrenal insufficiency and is used in the form of betamethasone benzoate, betamethasone dipropionate, or betamethasone valerate for the treatment of inflammation due to corticosteroid-responsive dermatoses. Betamethasone and clotrimazole are used together to treat cutaneous tinea infections. Betamethasone is a glucocorticoid receptor agonist. This leads to changes in genetic expression once this complex binds to the GRE. The antiinflammatory actions of corticosteroids are thought to involve lipocortins, phospholipase A2 inhibitory proteins which, through inhibition arachidonic acid, control the biosynthesis of prostaglandins and leukotrienes. The immune system is suppressed by corticosteroids due to a decrease in the function of the lymphatic system, a reduction in immunoglobulin and complement concentrations, the precipitation of lymphocytopenia, and interference with antigen-antibody binding. Betamethasone binds to plasma transcortin, and it becomes active when it is not bound to transcortin.Betamethasone is used for: treating certain conditions associated with decreased adrenal gland function. It is used to treat severe inflammation caused by certain conditions, including severe asthma, severe allergies, rheumatoid arthritis, ulcerative colitis, certain blood disorders, lupus, multiple sclerosis, and certain eye and skin conditions.

Paromomycin is a broad spectrum aminoglycoside antibiotic produced by by Streptomyces rimosus var. paromomycinus and used to treat intestinal infections such as cryptosporidiosis and amoebiasis, and other diseases such as leishmaniasis. Paromomycin is also used for the management of hepatic coma as adjunctive therapy. Paromomycin inhibits protein synthesis by binding to bacterial or protozoal 16S ribosomal RNA which causes defective polypeptide chains to be produced. Continuous production of defective proteins eventually leads to bacterial death. Gastrointestinal side effects include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal discomfort.

Oxymorphone is an analgesic that is FDA approved for the treatment of moderate to severe pain. It is also indicated for relief of anxiety in patients with dyspnea associated with pulmonary edema secondary to acute left ventricular dysfunction. Oxymorphone (brand names Opana, Numorphan, Numorphone) is a full opioid agonist and is relatively selective for the mu-opioid receptor, although it can bind to other opioid receptors at higher doses. Adverse reactions (≥ 2% of patients): seen with the immediate release tablet formulation Nausea, pyrexia, somnolence, vomiting, pruritus, headache, dizziness, constipation, and confusion. Concomitant use with serotonergic drugs may result in serotonin syndrome. Avoid use of mixed agonist/antagonist and partial agonist opioid analgesics with Opana because they may reduce analgesic effect of Opana or precipitate withdrawal symptoms.

Dexamethasone is an anti-inflammatory agent that is FDA approved for the treatment of many conditions, including rheumatic problems, a number of skin diseases, severe allergies, asthma, chronic obstructive lung disease, croup, brain swelling and others. Dexamethasone is a glucocorticoid agonist. Unbound dexamethasone crosses cell membranes and binds with high affinity to specific cytoplasmic glucocorticoid receptors. Adverse reactions are: Glaucoma with optic nerve damage, visual acuity and field defects; cataract formation; secondary ocular infection following suppression of host response; and perforation of the globe may occur; muscle weakness; osteoporosis and others. Aminoglutethimide may diminish adrenal suppression by corticosteroids. Macrolide antibiotics have been reported to cause a significant decrease in corticosteroid clearance.

Like other thiazides, chlorothiazide promotes water loss from the body (diuretics). It inhibits Na /Cl- reabsorption from the distal convoluted tubules in the kidneys. Thiazides also cause loss of potassium and an increase in serum uric acid. Thiazides are often used to treat hypertension, but their hypotensive effects are not necessarily due to their diuretic activity. Thiazides have been shown to prevent hypertension-related morbidity and mortality although the mechanism is not fully understood. Thiazides cause vasodilation by activating calcium-activated potassium channels (large conductance) in vascular smooth muscles and inhibiting various carbonic anhydrases in vascular tissue. Chlorothiazide affects the distal renal tubular mechanism of electrolyte reabsorption. At maximal therapeutic dosages, all thiazides are approximately equal in their diuretic efficacy. Chlorothiazide increases excretion of sodium and chloride in approximately equivalent amounts. Natriuresis may be accompanied by some loss of potassium and bicarbonate. After oral doses, 10-15 percent of the dose is excreted unchanged in the urine. Chlorothiazide crosses the placental but not the blood-brain barrier and is excreted in breast milk. As a diuretic, chlorothiazide 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 chlorothiazide 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 chlorothiazide 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. It is marketed under the brand name Diuril.

Triamcinolone acetonide is a synthetic corticosteroid used to treat various skin conditions, and to relieve the discomfort of mouth sores. In nasal spray form, it is used to treat allergic rhinitis. It is a more potent derivative of triamcinolone, and is about eight times as potent as prednisone. TRIESENCE™ is a synthetic corticosteroid indicated for: sympathetic ophthalmia, temporal arteritis, uveitis, and ocular inflammatory conditions unresponsive to topical corticosteroids. Triamcinolone acetonide is a synthetic fluorinated corticosteroid with approximately 8 times the potency of prednisone in animal models of inflammation. Although the precise mechanism of corticosteroid antiallergic action is unknown, corticosteroids have been shown to have a wide range of actions on multiple cell types (e.g., mast cells, eosinophils, neutrophils, macrophages, lymphocytes) and mediators (e.g., histamine, eicosanoids, leukotrienes, cytokines) involved in inflammation.

Perphenazine is a relatively high potency phenothiazine that blocks dopamine 2 receptors predominantly, but also may possess antagonist actions at histamine 1 and cholinergic M1 and alpha 1 adrenergic receptors in the vomiting center leading to reduced nausea and vomiting. The drug was approved by FDA for the treatment of schizophrenia and control of severe nausea and vomiting (either alone or in combination with amitriptyline hydrochloride). Perphenazine is extensively hepatic to metabolites via sulfoxidation, hydroxylation, dealkylation, and glucuronidation; primarily metabolized by CYP2D6 to N-dealkylated perphenazine, perphenazine sulfoxide, and 7-hydroxyperphenazine (active metabolite with 70% of the activity of perphenazine) and excreted in the urine and feces.

Norethisterone (INN, BAN), also known as Norethindrone (USAN) (brand names Micronor, AYGESTIN, numerous others) is a synthetic progestational hormone (progestin) with actions similar to those of progesterone but functioning as a more potent inhibitor of ovulation. It has weak estrogenic and androgenic properties. The hormone has been used for the treatment of secondary amenorrhea, endometriosis, and abnormal uterine bleeding due to hormonal imbalance in the absence of organic pathology, such as submucous fibroids or uterine cancer. AYGESTIN® is not intended, recommended or approved to be used with oncomitant estrogen therapy in postmenopausal women for endometrial protection. Progestins diffuse freely into target cells and bind to the progesterone receptor. Target cells include the female reproductive tract, the mammary gland, the hypothalamus, and the pituitary. Once bound to the receptor, progestins slow the frequency of release of gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) from the hypothalamus and blunt the pre-ovulatory LH surge. Allergic reaction could be: Itching or hives, swelling in your face or hands, swelling or tingling in your mouth or throat, chest tightness, trouble breathing.

Methylprednisolone is a prednisolone derivative with similar anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive action. It is adjunctive therapy for short-term administration in rheumatoid arthritis. It is indicated in the following conditions: endocrine disorders, rheumatic disorders, collagen diseases, allergic states etc. Methylprednisolone is marketed in the USA and Canada under the brand names Medrol and Solu-Medrol. Methylprednisolone is a GR receptor agonist.