RESUMO
When the bioavailability of a drug increases, a corresponding increase in the levels of that drug in the bloodstream occurs. With this, drug efficacy is augmented and the dosage required to yield a specific therapeutic effect diminishes comparably. Until recently, only a few methods have proven effective in enhancing drug bioavailability, among which are the disaggregation of micronized molecules, the use of timedrelease and topical preparations, mechanization, polymorph and crystal form selection, drug solubilisation, and the use of nanotechnology. (Though still at the experimental stage, nanotechnology promises to become a powerful pharmacological tool in the future.) Bioenhancers are agents not possessing any inherent therapeutic effects but that, when combined with active drugs, potentiate the pharmacological effects of those drugs. Hence the current article describes the enhancement of the bioavailability of drug molecules through the utilization of natural bioenhancers.
Assuntos
Disponibilidade Biológica , Sinergismo Farmacológico , Sistemas de Liberação de Medicamentos , Humanos , FitoterapiaRESUMO
In order to assess the extent of xylazine (Xyz) injection in Puerto Rico, two waves of used-syringe collections were performed. In the first, syringes were gathered, anonymously and without additional information; in the second, a short interview, also anonymous, was administered. We found Xyz in 37.6% of the collected syringes; the majority of the Xyz-containing syringes came from ranching communities. Syringes containing Xyz more frequently also contained "speedball" than those without (90.6% and 66.7%, respectively). Self-reports of Xyz injection deviated markedly from actual detection: only 50% (self-described users) and 22% (self-described non-users) of the collected syringes contained the drug. With a high prevalence of skin ulcers (38.5% vs. 6.8%; p<0.001), Xyz users were more likely to be in poor health compared to non-users. Surprisingly, though a higher percentage of Xyz users than non-users had college-level educations (23.1% vs. 5.5%), they were more likely to be homeless (64.1% vs. 37%).