Tacrine is a parasympathomimetic and a centrally acting cholinesterase inhibitor (anticholinesterase). It was the first centrally-acting cholinesterase inhibitor approved for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease, and was marketed under the trade name Cognex. Tacrine was first synthesised by Adrien Albert at the University of Sydney. It also acts as a histamine N-methyltransferase inhibitor. [edit] Clinical use Tacrine was the prototypical cholinesterase inhibitor for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Studies have found that it may have a small beneficial effect on cognition and other clinical measures, though adequate study data is limited and the clinical relevance of these findings is unclear.[1][2] The use of tacrine is limited by poor oral bioavailability, the necessity for four-times daily dosing, and considerable adverse drug reactions (including nausea, diarrhea, urinary incontinence and hepatotoxicity) such that few patients could tolerate therapeutic doses.[3] [edit] Overdosage/Toxicity As stated above, overdosage of tacrine may give rise to severe side effects such as nausea, vomiting, salivation, sweating, bradycardia, hypotension, collapse, and convulsions. Tertiary anticholinergics, such as atropine, may be used as an antidote for overdose. Major form of metabolism is in the liver via hydroxylation of benzylic carbon by CYP450. This forms the major metabolite 1-hydroxy-tacrine (velnacrine) which is still active. [edit] References - ^ Qizilbash N, Whitehead A, Higgins J, et al. Cholinesterase inhibition for Alzheimer disease: a meta-analysis of the tacrine trials. JAMA 1998;280(20):1777-82. PMID 9842955
- ^ Rang HP, Dale MM, Ritter JM, Moore PK. Pharmacology, 5th edition. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone; 2003.
- ^ Sweetman S, editor. Martindale: the complete drug reference, 34th ed. London: Pharmaceutical Press; 2004. ISBN 0-85369-550-4
[edit] See also | Histaminergics | | Receptor
Ligands | | | Agonists: 2-Pyridylethylamine • Betahistine • Histamine • HTMT • UR-AK49 Antagonists: 1st Generation: Alimemazine • Azatadine • Bamipine • Bepotastine • Bromazine • Brompheniramine • Buclizine • Carbinoxamine • Chlorcyclizine • Chloropyramine • Chlorothen • Chlorpheniramine • Chlorphenoxamine • Cinnarizine • Clemastine • Clobenzepam • Clocinizine • Cyclizine • Cyproheptadine • Dacemazine • Deptropine • Dexbrompheniramine • Dexchlorpheniramine • Dimetindene • Diphenhydramine • Diphenylpyraline • Doxylamine • Embramine • Etymemazine • Histapyrrodine • Hydroxyethylpromethazine • Hydroxyzine • Iproheptine • Isopromethazine • Isothipendyl • Meclizine • Mepyramine • Mequitazine • Methafurylene • Methapyrilene • Methdilazine • Moxastine • Niaprazine • Orphenadrine • Oxatomide • Oxomemazine • p-Methyldiphenhydramine • Pheniramine • Phenyltoloxamine • Promethazine • Pyrilamine • Pyrrobutamine • Setastine • Talastine • Thenalidine • Thenyldiamine • Thiazinamium • Thonzylamine • Tolpropamine • Tripelennamine • Triprolidine; 2nd Generation: Acrivastine • Antazoline • Astemizole • Azatadine • Azelastine • Bamipine • Cetirizine • Clemizole • Clobenztropine • Deptropine • Dimebon • Ebastine • Emedastine • Epinastine • Ketotifen • Levocabastine • Loratadine • Mebhydrolin • Mizolastine • Olopatadine • Phenindamine • Pimethixene • Pyrrobutamine • Rupatadine • Terfenadine • Thenalidine • Tritoqualine; 3rd Generation: Desloratadine • Fexofenadine • Levocetirizine; Miscellaneous: Tricyclic Antidepressants ( Amitriptyline, Doxepin, Trimipramine, etc) • Tetracyclic Antidepressants ( Mianserin, Mirtazapine, etc) • Serotonin Antagonists and Reuptake Inhibitors ( Trazodone, Nefazodone) • Typical Antipsychotics ( Chlorpromazine, Thioridazine, etc) • Atypical Antipsychotics ( Clozapine, Olanzapine, Quetiapine, etc) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Reuptake
Inhibitors | | | Enzyme
Inhibitors | | | | Others | | | |
