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Melarsoprol
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| Systematic (IUPAC) name | |
| (2-(4-(4,6-diamino-1,3,5-triazin-2-ylamino)phenyl)- 1,3,2-dithiarsolan-4-yl)methanol |
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| Identifiers | |
| CAS number | |
| ATC code | P01 |
| PubChem | |
| Chemical data | |
| Formula | C12H15AsN6OS2 |
| Mol. mass | 398.341 g/mol |
| Pharmacokinetic data | |
| Bioavailability | ? |
| Metabolism | ? |
| Half life | 35 hours |
| Excretion | Renal |
| Therapeutic considerations | |
| Pregnancy cat. |
? |
| Legal status |
? |
| Routes | IV |
Melarsoprol (INN) is a medicinal drug used in the treatment of Human African trypanosomiasis.[1] It is also sold under the trade names “Mel B” and “Melarsen Oxide-BAL.”
Melarsoprol is also used in the treatment of Chagas diseasecitation needed.
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Side effects
Being a toxic organic compound of arsenic, Melarsoprol is a highly dangerous treatment which is only administered by injection under the supervision of a physician.
It is known to cause a range of side effects including convulsions, fever, loss of consciousness, rashes, bloody stools, nausea, and vomiting. It is fatal in and of itself in a significant fraction of cases.
Administration
As it melts plastic, melarsoprol must be administered in glass syringes and special I.V. tubes.
Alternatives
Eflornithine is a more modern and far less dangerous treatment for sleeping sickness,[2] but is expensive, not widely available on the market, and most of its supply comes from donations from its manufacturer.
References
- ^ Bisser S, N'Siesi FX, Lejon V, et al (2007). "Equivalence trial of melarsoprol and nifurtimox monotherapy and combination therapy for the treatment of second-stage Trypanosoma brucei gambiense sleeping sickness". J. Infect. Dis. 195 (3): 322–9. doi:. PMID 17205469.
- ^ Chappuis F, Udayraj N, Stietenroth K, Meussen A, Bovier PA (2005). "Eflornithine is safer than melarsoprol for the treatment of second-stage Trypanosoma brucei gambiense human African trypanosomiasis". Clin. Infect. Dis. 41 (5): 748–51. doi:. PMID 16080099.
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- This page was last modified on 14 September 2008, at 01:09.
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