Drug Name Inderal

Ergot alkaloids are obtained from Secale cornutum (ergot), the sclerotium of a fungus (Claviceps purpurea) parasitizing rye. Consumption of flour from contaminated grain was once the cause of epidemic poisonings (ergotism) characterized by gangrene of the extremities (St.Anthony’s fire) and CNS disturbances (hallucinations). Ergot alkaloids contain lysergic acid (formula in A shows an amide).
Most frequently, this process entails a loss of biological activity and an increase in hydrophilicity (water solubility), thereby promoting elimination via the renal route. Since rapid drug elimination improves accuracy in titrating the therapeutic concentration, drugs are often designed with built-in weak links. Ester bonds are such links, being subject to hydrolysis by the ubiquitous esterases.

 

Adverse effects: allergies; contraindications: iodine-induced thyrotoxicosis. Lithium ions inhibit thyroxine release. Lithium salts can be used instead of iodine for rapid thyroid suppression in iodine-induced thyrotoxicosis. Regarding administration of lithium in manic-depressive illness, see p. 234. I. Replacement therapy.
This steroid forms an integral constituent of cytoplasmic membranes of fungal cells, analogous to cholesterol in animal plasma membranes. Fungi exposed to imidazole derivatives stop growing (fungistatic effect) or die (fungicidal effect). The spectrum of affected fungi is very broad.