Bevonium is a parasympatolytic antimuscarinic compound. It possesses spasmolytic properties. The use of the drug is discontinued.

Dilevalol, the RR-stereoisomer of labetalol, is a non-cardioselective β-adrenoceptor antagonist with substantial partial β2-agonist and negligible α1-blocking activity. Reduction in blood pressure during dilevalol administration is associated with peripheral vasodilatation, and heart rate remains essentially unchanged. Following oral administration, dilevalol is completely absorbed. Once-daily administration is possible, due to a long elimination half-life. In vitro and in vivo animal studies and results obtained in humans reveal that dilevalol is a nonselective blocker of β1- and β2-adrenoceptors, with a similar potency to propranolol, but has negligible antagonistic activity at α1-receptors. Dilevalol, the R,R′ stereoisomer, makes up 25% of racemic labetalol, the drug, approved by FDA for the treatment of hypertension. The relaxing potency of dilevalol was approximately 4.7 times more potent than that of labetalol. Dilevalol markedly reduced the diastolic blood pressure with only a slight increase of heart rate In pithed rats, while isoproterenol and pindolol caused moderate to marked positive chronotropic effects in proportion to their hypotensive effects. These results suggest that dilevalol has more potent ISA than labetalol. In contrast to labetalol, dilevalol possesses little, if any, alpha-adrenergic blocking activity. The compound is 3 to 10 times less potent than labetalol at α1-adrenergic receptors under a variety of experimental conditions. Moreover, it is 300- to 1000-fold less potent at alpha1-adrenergic receptors compared with β1-adrenergic receptors. The pA2 values for dilevalol as an α antagonist range from 5.9 to 6.4. Because maximal plasma concentrations of the drug after administration of a 400-mg dose are approximately 0.5 pmol, it is doubtful that alpha blockade is involved in the antihypertensive response to dilevalol in humans.

Gentamicin is an antibiotic of the aminoglycoside group, is derived from the growth of Micromonospora purpurea, an actinomycete. Gentamicin is a complex of three different closely related aminoglycoside sulfates, Gentamicins C1, C2, and C1a that have different patterns of methylation at the 69 position of the ring. Gentamicin C1a is a broad-spectrum antibiotic against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria but may cause ear and kidney damage. Gentamicin C1a binds to the A-site RNA of the 30S bacterial ribosomal subunit. Adverse reactions include adverse renal effects, neurotoxicity (dizziness, vertigo, tinnitus, roaring in the ears, hearing loss, peripheral neuropathy or encephalopathy), respiratory depression, lethargy, confusion, depression, visual disturbances, etc.

DIMEFLINE is a pneumokinetic and respiratory stimulant. It has been used for the treatment of respiratory insufficiency. The mechanism of action is unknown.

Tilarginine is L-N-monomethyl arginine (L -NMMA), a non-selective inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase (NOS), which has been studied in the treatment of septic shock and cardiogenic shock complicating myocardial infarction. Despite strong evidence that excessive nitric oxide (NO) production plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of septic shock and may contribute to the pathogenesis of cardiogenic shock complicating myocardial infarction, outcome studies in these two disorders have proved disappointing. Tilarginine therapy was associated with an excess mortality, particularly at doses > 5 mg/(kg h), in septic shock, whereas the effects of a lower dose (1 mg/(kg h)) in cardiogenic shock complicating myocardial infarction were neutral. The excess mortality in patients with septic shock was almost certainly the result of unfavorable hemodynamic changes induced by Tilarginine (decreased cardiac output, increased pulmonary vascular resistance and reduced tissue oxygen delivery) whereas the lack of benefit in patients with cardiogenic shock complicating myocardial infarction may have been because the dose of Tilarginine was too low.

Raclopride is a salicylamide neuroleptic, that acts as a selective antagonist of D2 dopamine receptors both in vitro and in vivo. Tritium-labelled raclopride has properties that demonstrate its usefulness as a radioligand for the labelling of dopamine-D2 receptors : 3H-Raclopride has a high affinity for the rat and human dopamine-D2 receptors, the non-specific binding of 3H-raclopride is very low, not exceeding 5% of the total binding and the distribution of the 3H-raclopride binding sites in the brain closely correlates with the dopaminergic innervation. The binding of 3H-raclopride is blocked by dopamine-D2 agonists and antagonists, while the D1 agonist SKF 38393 and the Dl antagonist SCH 23390 have much less potency. The interaction of dopamine with 3H-raclopride binding results in a shallow competition curve, which suggests that 3H-raclopride, similar to other dopamine-D2 radioligands, labels both high and low agonist affinity states of the dopamine-D2 receptor. The in vivo receptor binding studies performed with 3H-raclopride also demonstrate its favorable properties as a dopamine-D2 receptor marker in vivo In contrast to some other compounds used as radioligands, raclopride enters the brain readily and binds with a low component of non-specific binding in all dopamine-rich brain areas. A saturation curve may be achieved in vivo binding studies since injections of increasing concentrations of 3H-raclopride appears to be saturated at concentrations above 25 mkCi (corresponding to approximately 5 nmol/kg). Raclopride antagonizes apomorphine-induced hyperactivity in the rat at low doses (ED50 = 130 nM/kg i.p.) but induces catalepsy only at much higher doses (ED50 = 27 mkM/kg i.p.). Radiolabelled raclopride has been used as a ligand for in vitro and in vivo autoradiography in rat and primate brains. Raclopride C 11 is used with positron emission tomography (PET) as a clinical research tool to determine dopamine type 2 (D 2) receptor density in the human brain under normal and pathological conditions. For example, raclopride C 11 used in PET studies has served to confirm the age-related decrease in striatal dopamine D2 receptor density, which may be associated with a decline in the motor as well as cognitive functions. In patients with Alzheimer's disease, raclopride C 11 may be used to examine neuroreceptor distribution and quantities, which may help in the analysis of degenerative alterations of neuron populations and neuroreceptor systems in patients with this disease. In Huntington's disease, in which degeneration of neostriatal interneurons occurs (postsynaptic to the dopaminergic input), specific binding of raclopride C 11 to D 2 receptors may serve as one of the parameters in predicting performance in cognitive tasks.

Olanexidine [1-(3,4-dichlorobenzyl)-5-octylbiguanide] (formerly OPB-2045), an antimicrobial agent exhibited antimicrobial activity against a wide range of bacteria, especially Gram-positive bacteria, was synthesized in 1997. To optimize its use as a topical antiseptic, olanexidine was converted to the gluconate salt. The resulting formulation (OPB) had more potent bactericidal activity against methicillin-resistant S. aureus and vancomycin-resistant enterococci in both in vitro and in vivo animal models than chlorhexidine and PVP-I. The mechanism of action was considered to be follows: olanexidine binds to the cell membrane, disrupts membrane integrity, and exerts its bacteriostatic and bactericidal activities by causing the irreversible leakage of intracellular components. At relatively high concentrations, olanexidine aggregates the cells through a protein-denaturing effect.

Cefodizime is a third-generation cephalosporin with a broad spectrum of antibacterial activity. Administered intravenously or intramuscularly 1 to 4 g of cefodizime daily for an average of 7 to 10 days produces a clinical cure in 80 to 100% of patients (adults, elderly or children) with upper or lower respiratory tract infections or urinary tract infections. In comparative trials cefodizime was as effective as other third generation cephalosporins. A single dose of cefodizime (1 or 2 g) is also useful in treating lower urinary tract infections. Urogenital gonorrhoea, whether caused by beta-lactamase producing or non-beta-lactamase producing Neisseria gonorrhoeae, is very effectively treated by single dose therapy with intramuscular cefodizime. Preliminary data from a small number of patients indicates that cefodizime may also be useful in the treatment of otitis media, sinusitis and gynaecological infections, and for the prophylaxis or treatment of surgical infections. The clinical efficacy of cefodizime compared to other third generation cephalosporins is superior to that predicted from in vitro results. This superior activity of cefodizime may be related to the relatively long elimination half-life of the drug or its ability to modify some functions of the immune system--a potentially important finding awaiting further investigation. Cefodizime is well tolerated and has a tolerability profile similar to other members of its class with systemic adverse events being primarily gastrointestinal or dermatological. Cefodizime may be more convenient to administer than some other agents of its class as it may be given once or twice daily. While there are no trials comparing cefodizime to other third generation cephalosporins in immunosuppressed populations, preliminary information indicates cefodizime may be useful in this group. Cefodizime targets penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs) 1A/B, 2, and 3 resulting in the eventual death of the bacterial cell. In vivo experimental models of infection showed that bacterial clearance by this drug is at least as effective compared with other 3rd generation cephalosporins. It has a similar adverse effect profile to other 3rd generation cephalosporins which is mainly being limited to gastrointestinal or dermatological side effects. It is not currently approved by the FDA for use in the United States.

Azalanstat is a synthetic imidazole. It has been shown to inhibit cholesterol synthesis in HepG2 cells, human fibroblasts, hamster hepatocytes and hamster liver, by inhibiting the cytochrome P450 enzyme lanosterol 14 alpha-demethylase. In hamsters it lowered serum cholesterol in a dose-dependent manner. Azalanstat preferentially lowered low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and apo B relative to high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and apo A-1. Azalanstat inhibited hepatic microsomal hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA (HMG-CoA) reductase activity in hamsters in a dose-dependent manner and this was highly correlated with serum cholesterol lowering. In vitro studies with HepG2 cells indicated that this modulation of reductase activity was indirect, occurring at a post-transcriptional step. Azalanstat has been in preclinical phase for the treatment of hyperlipidaemia but this research has been discontinued.

Nefopam (nefopam hydrochloride) is a potent, rapidly-acting non-narcotic analgesic. It is totally distinct from other centrally-acting analgesics such as morphine, codeine, pentazocine and propoxyphene. Unlike the narcotic agents, nefopam (nefopam hydrochloride) has been shown not to cause respiratory depression. It is indicated for the relief of acute and chronic pain, including post-operative pain, dental pain, musculo-skeletal pain, acute traumatic pain and cancer pain. Its mechanism of action is unclear.