Drug-Induced Ocular Hypertension and Angle-Closure Glaucoma.

The objective of this study was to review the available literature on the drugs causing ocular hypertension and glaucoma. Electronic literature search was carried out using the Web sites www.pubmed.gov and www.google.com published through the year 2011. The search words were "drug induced ocular hypertension" and "drug induced glaucoma" used in combination. The articles published or translated into English were studied. Quite a significant number of drugs commonly prescribed by various physicians of different specialties can induce ocular hypertension or glaucoma. A brief account of various drugs that can induce ocular hypertension has been given in this article. Those drugs are parasympatholytics; steroids; anticholinergics, adrenergics, and antidepressants; cholinomimetics; antineoplastic agents; antipsychotic and antiparkinsonism agents; H1 and H2 receptor blockers; botulinum toxin, cardiac agents, and anticoagulants; silicone oil; sulfa drugs; and anesthetic agents. Rational use of these drugs and knowledge of their potential adverse effects can help prevent the devastating complications resulting in loss of vision and compromised quality of life.

Experimental study of neuropharmacological profile of Euphorbia pulcherrima in mice and rats.

CONTEXT: Euphorbia pulcherrima (EP) belongs to the family: Euphorbiaceae and Genus: Euphorbia. Many species of Euphorbia have been reported as having beneficial properties like anticonvulsive effect, central analgesic properties, antipyretic action, central depressant action and strong sedative effect. However, little study has been done and published on EP. AIMS: To observe and evaluate various neuropharmacological effects like antinociceptive effect, anticonvulsant effect, motor in-coordination, pentobarbital induced sleeping time and behavioral responses of EP in mice and rats. SETTING AND DESIGN: Quantitative experimental study in mice and rats by various experimental models. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Different experimental models were used to assess the antinociceptive effect (hotplate, tail flick and acetic acid induced writhing test), anticonvulsant effect (Maximal Electroshock Seizure test [MES] and Pentylenetetrazole induced seizures [PTZ]), motor in-coordination effect (Rota rod test), pentobarbital induced sleeping time and behavioral responses of EP in mice and rats after oral administration of EP crude dried extracts in three different doses (250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg). STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: The significance of difference with respect to control was evaluated using the Mann-Whitney U test. A probability (P-value) level less than 0.05 was considered as significant. RESULTS: In MES test model, duration of tonic hind limb extension in mice treated with EP was significantly less as compared to vehicle treated group. EP was most effective in a dose of 1000 mg/kg. There was also significant increase in the latency and decrease in the incidence of convulsions with the use of EP in three different doses in PTZ induced seizure model. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed EP (crude dried) extracts to possess anticonvulsant properties but no effect on motor co-ordination and anxiety.

Antinociceptive effect of amitriptyline in mice of acute pain models.

Tricyclic antidepressant drugs induce antinociceptive effect and suggest that their analgesic action could be related to the monoaminergic activity of the drugs. The analgesic activity of amitriptyline was observed in mouse models of acute pain. Mice were divided into different groups and were given amitriptyline in different doses alone and in combination with morphine. Reaction time in Hot-Plate and Tail-Flick tests was observed. Results showed that amitriptyline had antinociceptive effect in acute pain state in experimental models. Amitriptyline in combination with morphine had better analgesic effect than the morphine alone in Hot-Plate test.