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T compounds slow drug metabolism' MD says allopurinol and nortriptyline can trigger toxic buildup of other agents A commonly used gout drug and an antidepressant have been found tc, inhibit the metabolism of certain drug~ in the body, according to Dr. Elliot S. Vesell. of Hershey '.Medical Center, Hershey, Penna. \lost drugs that are taken by• man are metabolized by enzymes in the liver. \earlv 200 agents are known to speed up the metabolic process, but very few agents are known to slow metabolism, The 2 drugs that slow metabo- lism, Dr. Vesell told a recent con- ference on Drug 'Metabolisn7 in Man, sponsored by the \ e>.i• York Academy of Sciences, are allopuri- nol, a gout drug manufactured by Hurroughs Welcome as Zyloprim : and nortriptyline, Lillv's Aventvl HCI. Dr. Vesell administered the drugs to both normal human volunteers and laboratory rats along with anti- pvrine, an anti-fever drug. The re- searcher found that, when given with the 2 inhibiting drugs, anti- pti-rine rentiained in the bloa.xa p"asma longer than when given alone. Dr. Vesell concludes from the studv that doctors who have patients on either allopurinol or nortriptcline should monitor them for blood plasma levels of other drugs that the.• mav be taking. He says that these physicians may have to reduce the levels of the other drugs to pre- vent what could become a toxic ac- cumulation in the bodv. Digitalis toxicity: ?,t the same meeting, a team of researchers led by Dr. Edgar Haber of the Harvard Medical School, reported a ne.v test that they have developed to deter- mine the chances of digitalis toxicit.- in heart patients. Digitalis and digitoxin are, per- haps, the most commonlN ' used drugs in the control of cardiac irregulari- ties. L'nfortunateh•, they have one drawback that distinguishes them from most other drugs-the dose at which they are effective is danger- ously close to the dose at which they become toxic. The t±st irvol.•es t11,e comparison 52 • Pharmaceutical & Med col Science CONVENIENCE is claimed to be the main advantage of this new "3-Pak" package of Wyeth's oral contraceptive, Ovral, which con• tains a 3-month's supply. The "3- Pak" includes a comb-type case containing a month's supply of Ovral, 2 additional month's supply, and patient infor- mation. of digitalis or digitoxin levels in the patient's blood with levels in blood from rabbits which have been given one of the drugs. Heredity and drugs: Dr. George P. Lewis, who headed a research team at the Lemuel Shattuck H<r:- pital, Boston, reported to the con- ference the results of a study con- cerning the heritable factors r,f drug response. Since 1907, the team ha~, conducted tests on 7000 persons. The physicians found that indi- viduals with low serum albumin levels suffer a number of adverse effects from prednisone. The side effect!!, include hemor- rhagic problems, psychoses, and in- creased blood sugar levels. New booklet aims to cheer `break'victims Casting about for ways to break the monotony and mend morale for bone fracture patients, Parke-Davi~ hit upon the idea of a booklet en- titled, "So 1 ou Have to Wear a Cast. - The 12-page colttr brochure tiva~ published in conjunction with a promotion of the company's line of "Ileadi-Cast" splints and bandage~ and is being distributed to doctors, hospitals, and nursing homes throughout the U.S. Using text and animated draw- ings, the booklet explains what a fracture is; how a cast is made: as %vell as detailing the healing prcwei.s involved when the break is mend- ing. One of the booklet's main pur- poses is to cheer the victim who finds his activities greatly curtailed. The pamphlet advises the patient to "relax. You'll find people will be aware of yonr problem and be nlore than willing to t hell,." New radiopharmaceutical A new diagnostic radiopharnla- ceutical product used in kidne\ scanning has been marketed by Squibb. Called Renotec, it is com- posed of technetiumaI" complexed w~t,lh thit' I chejat'iI I' agent llTl'A. AMERICAN DRUGGIST • September 7, 1970