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Monday, May 15, 2006
Dumaguing: Natravox for microbial holocaust
By Dr. Vic Dumaguing
To Your Health
THE refreshing April showers are gone. The rains should be coming, says the Pagasa, every time we growl about the sweltering heat of summer. Indeed, the rains of May have been falling, sometimes as a modest trickle, but it may surprise us, as a huge downpour. That catches a lot of people off guard with no umbrella or a raincoat, so many of them go home drenched or slightly damp - a very conducive environment for the microbes in our throat to become virulent and pathogenic. The result? - A sharp increase in the incidence of upper and lower respiratory tract infections. Young and old alike, even infants, suffer from fever, cough, headache and oftentimes, difficulty of breathing.
It's a good thing, Natravox is available. Natravox is an oral antibacterial combination consisting of the semi-synthetic antibiotic Amoxicillin and the inhibitor of the enzyme beta lactamase, Clavulanic acid. Amoxicillin is an analog of the very popular antibiotic ampicillin many years back. Clavulanic acid is produced by the fermentation of the microbe Streptomyces clavuligerus. It is a beta-lactam structure rally related to the penicillin and possesses the ability to inactive a wide variety of beta-lactamases or penicillinases by blocking the active sites, in the receptor of beta-lactamases. Clavulamic acid is particularly active against the clinically important plasmid-mediated beta lactamase, which are frequently responsible for transferred drug resistance of microbes to penicillin and their relatives, cephalosporins.
Amoxicillin exerts its bacterial (bacteria-killing effects) by interfering and inhibiting the formation of the protective cell wall of the microbe, thus making them extremely easy prey to the defensive actions of our white blood cells and other immune agents. Amoxicillin is active against all penicillin-sensitive bacteria including streptococci and most strains of pneumococci, meningococci and gonococci. Bacteria that produces the enzyme penicillinase or beta-lactamase are not affected, most notably staphylococcus aureus. The drug is also active against strains of haemophilus influenzae that do not produce beta lactamase.
Clavulanic acid has a beta-lactam structure resembling that of the penicillin nucleus, except that an oxazolidine ring replaces the fused thiazolidine ring of the penicillins. Clavulanic acid is a potent, progressive inhibitor of plasmid-mediated and some chromosomal beta lactamase produced by gram negative bacteria, including Haemophilus ducreyi, H. influenzae, N. gonorrhea, Moraxella catarrhalis and bacteroides fragilis. It can also inhibit the potent beta lactamase produced by Staphylococcus aureus. Moreover, clavulanic acid can permeate and penetrate the cell walls of bacteria and therefore can inactivate both extra-cellular enzymes and those that are bound to the cell. Clavulanic acid enhances the activity or penicillin and cephalosporin anti-bacterial against many resistant strains of micros.
Natravox is effective in treating upper respiratory tract infections like sinusitis, otitis media, tonsillitis-infections caused for the most part by streptococcus pneumonia, haemophilus influenzae, moraxella catarrhalis and streptococcus pyogenes. Lower respiratory tract infections like chronic bronchitis and bronchopneumonia are also effectively treated by Natravox. Genitor-urinary and abdominal infections can also be managed with a Natravox. Cystitis (urinary bladder infection or balisawsaw) is treated well by a complete dose of Natravox. For septic abortion, pelvic infections and intra-abdominal sepsis may be managed with the injectable form of Natravox. Dentists use Natravox in treating dental caries with spreading cellulites.
As with the case of most, if not all drug in the medical world, there are many versions of the Amoxicillin-Clavulanic fixed-dose combination. However, Natravox stands proud and can stand head-to-head wit the more-expensive version of the antibiotic combination. In a bioequivalence study conducted among healthy Filipino subjects at the UST Hospital Bioavailability Unit, Natravox is proven bioequivalent to the reference comparator brand using international reference values for bioequivalence. On a per hour basis from the time the two medicines were taken, their mean plasma concentrations were strikingly similar.
Natravox tablets come in 375mg and 625 mg strengths, each containing 125mg of clavulanic acid with 250mg and 500mg amoxicillin, respectively. For kids and young children, per 5ml or one teaspoon of the suspension are two strengths, 156mg and 312mg dose strengths.
My dear friends, we in Baguio are accustomed to torrential rains, heavy downpours especially during the monsoon season, as well as the coughs and fevers that come with the rains. To effect a definite cure, prevent relapses, prevent resistance to antibiotics, it is reassuring to know that Natravox is there, sensitive to the needs of the average Filipino. Tested and proven bioequivalent to the more expensive leading brand and lot cheaper and cost-effective, indeed, Natravox should be the logical first choice!
(May 15, 2006 issue)
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