Browsing Pathways

Agomelatine is structurally closely related to melatonin. Agomelatine is a potent agonist at melatonin receptors and an antagonist at serotonin-2C (5-HT2C) receptors and promotes dopamine and norepinephrine release. Agomelatine is indicated to treat major depressive episodes in adults. It is an atypical antidepressant.

Ajmaline is an antiarrhythmic used to manage a variety of forms of tachycardias. It can be found under the brand names Gilurytmal, Ritmos, and Aritmina. An alkaloid found in the root of Rauwolfia serpentina, among other plant sources. It is a class Ia antiarrhythmic agent that apparently acts by changing the shape and threshold of cardiac action potentials. Ajmaline produces potent sodium channel blocking effects and a very short half-life which makes it a very useful drug for acute intravenous treatments. The drug has been very popular in some countries for the treatment of atrial fibrillation in patients with the Wolff–Parkinson–White syndrome and in well tolerated monomorphic ventricular tachycardias. It has also been used for many years as a drug to challenge the conduction system of the heart in cases of bundle branch block and syncope. In these cases, abnormal prolongation of the HV interval has been taken as a proof for infrahisian conduction defects tributary for permanent pacemaker implantation. The class I antiarrhythmic agents interfere with the sodium channel. A class IA agent lengthens the action potential (right shift) which brings about improvement in abnormal heart rhythms. This drug in particular has a high affinity for the Nav 1.5 sodium channel. Some side effects of using ajmaline may include warm flushes, tingling skin, vertigo, and eye twitches.

Albendazole is a broad-spectrum benzimidazole anthelmintic used to treat parenchymal neurocysticercosis and other helminth infections. Albendazole causes degenerative alterations in the tegument and intestinal cells of the worm by diminishing its energy production, ultimately leading to immobilization and death of the parasite. It works by binding to the colchicine-sensitive site of tubulin, thus inhibiting its polymerization or assembly into microtubules. As cytoplasmic microtubules are critical in promoting glucose uptake in larval and adult stages of the susceptible parasites, the glycogen stores of the parasites are depleted. Cellular glucose dissipates which results in decreased production and dissipation of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which is the energy required for the survival of the helminth. Degenerative changes in the endoplasmic reticulum, the mitochondria of the germinal layer, and the subsequent release of lysosomes also result in decreased production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP),