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Drug of last resort

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Agents classified as fourth-line (or greater) treatments or experimental therapies could be considered by default to be drugs of last resort due to their low placement in the treatment hierarchy. Such placement may result from a multitude of considerations, including greater efficacy of other agents,
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Due to the possibility of potential severe or fatal consequences of resistant strains, initial treatment often includes concomitant administration of multiple antimicrobial agents that are not known to show cross-resistance, so as to reduce the possibility of a resistant strain remaining inadequately
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With regard to antibiotics, antivirals, and other agents indicated for treatment of infectious pathological disease, drugs of last resort are commonly withheld from administration until after the trial and failure of more commonly used treatment options to prevent the development of drug resistance.
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The use of a drug of last resort may be based on agreement among members of a patient's care network, including physicians and healthcare professionals across multiple specialties, or on a patient's desire to pursue a particular course of treatment and a practitioner's willingness to administer that
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Krings-Ernst, Ilana; Ulrich, Sven; Adli, Mazda (1 October 2013). "Antidepressant Treatment with MAO-Inhibitors During General and Regional Anesthesia: a Review and Case Report of Spinal Anesthesia for Lower Extremity Surgery Without Discontinuation of Tranylcypromine".
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or similar issues relating to patient tolerance. Some experimental therapies might also be called drugs of last resort when administered following the failure of all other currently accepted treatments.
433:) are indicated in heavily treatment-experienced adults with multidrug-resistant HIV-1 infection failing their current antiretroviral regimen due to resistance, intolerance, or safety considerations. 231:
treated by a single agent during the evaluation of drug response. Once a specific resistance profile has been isolated via clinical laboratory findings, treatment is often modified as indicated.
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agents. These agents often exhibit what are considered to be among the most efficient dose-response related effects, or are drugs for which few or no resistant strains are known.
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related efficacy in time-critical situations such as high mortality circumstances. Many of the drugs considered last resorts fall into one or more of the categories of
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One of the most commonly known examples of both antimicrobial resistance and the relationship to the classification of a drug of last resort is the emergence of
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Schulte, P. (2003). "What is an adequate trial with clozapine?: therapeutic drug monitoring and time to response in treatment-refractory schizophrenia".
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pathogens and tumors. Such an alternative may be outside of extant regulatory requirements or medical best practices, in which case it may be viewed as
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Although most of the notable drugs of last resort are antibiotics or antivirals, other drugs are sometimes considered drugs of last resort, such as
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has long been considered a drug of last resort, due to its efficiency in treating multiple drug-resistant infectious agents and the requirement for
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Costa, Caroline S; Bagatin, Ediléia; Martimbianco, Ana Luiza C; da Silva, Edina MK; Lúcio, Marília M; Magin, Parker; Riera, Rachel (2018-11-24).
658: 540:— used in treatment-resistant schizophrenia not responsive to at least two different antipsychotics; the main reason for such restriction is 227:, with an emphasis on evaluating the response to initial treatment and laboratory diagnostic techniques to isolate cases of drug resistance. 177:
Therapies considered to be drugs of last resort may at times be used earlier in the event that an agent would likely show the most immediate
941:"Infectious Disease & Antimicrobial Agents - Trypanosoma brucei gambiense and Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense (African Trypanosomiasis)" 498:(IBS-D) in females not responsive to conventional therapy. Its use is restricted due to serious gastrointestinal adverse reactions, e.g. 198: 691:). A large "off-label" business in thalidomide began for rare cancers even while it was only FDA-approved for erythema nodosum leprosum. 246: 220: 919:"Sunlenca (lenacapavir) Tablets, for Oral Use; Sunlenca (lenacapavir) Injection, for Subcutaneous Use. Full Prescribing Information" 144: 86: 970: 116: 654: 1175: 123: 1251: 256:(VISA)) often coinciding with methicillin/penicillin resistance, prompting the inclusion of newer antibiotics (such as 1191:
Grady, MM; Stahl, SM (26 April 2012). "Practical Guide for Prescribing MAOIs: Debunking Myths and Removing Barriers".
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have failed, many dermatologists resort to isotretinoin, which is an oral treatment that permanently dries out the
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which is tried after all other drug options have failed to produce an adequate response in the patient.
178: 680: 597: 216: 51: 463:— use is limited due to high cost and risk of vision loss or myopathy (due to mitochondrial damage). 495: 380: 348: 55: 47: 1336:"Sabril (vigabatrin) Tablets for Oral Use, Powder for Oral Solution. Full Prescribing Information" 1162:
Hypertension and you : old drugs, new drugs, and the right drugs for your high blood pressure
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and can permanently dry out the skin all over the body and is therefore not the first treatment.
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who are not appropriate candidates for other adjunctive therapies. Use is restricted due to
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production of the skin and is often a permanent solution against acne. It can cause severe
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administration. Recently, resistance to even vancomycin has been shown in some strains of
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due to resistance to non-penicillin antibiotics that some strains of
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species; this drug is limited by high cost and risk of liver injury.
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became available). Also first-line therapy (used topically) for
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International Journal of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics
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causes intravenous chloramphenicol to be a drug of last resort.
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course. Certain situations such as severe bacterial related
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in situations where conventional therapy is not sufficient.
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have shown to exhibit). In cases presenting with suspected
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Grace, Eddie; Asbill, Scott; Virga, Kris (November 2015).
1309:. Validus Pharmaceuticals. pp. 2, 5. Archived from 778:"FDA tells doctors to use heartburn drug as last resort" 1266: 1047:. MedlinePlus : U.S. National Library of Medicine 580:— when all topical treatments or antibiotics against 395:
exist. Unacceptably high risk of irreversible, fatal
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in patients with limited or no alternative options.
268:socioeconomic considerations, availability issues, 1159: 751:The American Heritage Stedman's Medical Dictionary 748: 566:. Its use is associated with an increased risk of 1242:(3rd ed.). New York: Facts On File. p.  1238:The Encyclopedia of the Brain and Brain Disorders 1349: 1233: 816: 457:, resulting in death in around 5% of patients. 635:minoxidil is a first-line drug for hair loss. 252:(VRSA) or vancomycin intermediate-resistance 596:when taken while pregnant, is said to cause 357:— a cephalosporin used to treat complicated 347:); use is limited to prevent development of 102:introducing citations to additional sources 1072:The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 711:— used only in extreme treatment-resistant 675:) after prenatal use by pregnant women, US 1190: 415:; carries risk of kidney and nerve damage. 221:Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 1099: 842: 801: 683:(ENL) in 1998, and 2008 for new cases of 526:/hypnotic agent used in the treatment of 641:— due to potentially lethal dietary and 544:and other severe side effects including 174:can more commonly lead to last resorts. 92:Relevant discussion may be found on the 1000: 1350: 775: 361:(cUTI) caused by multi-drug resistant 315:are often severe or potentially fatal. 938: 823:Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy 339:active against methicillin-resistant 1157: 951:from the original on 7 February 2024 69: 859: 309:primary amoebic meningoencephalitis 13: 1234:Turkington, C; Harris, JR (2009). 755:. Houghton Mifflin Company. 2004. 502:and complications of constipation. 371:— formerly first-line therapy for 14: 1374: 926:U.S. Food and Drug Administration 905:U.S. Food and Drug Administration 288: 262:vancomycin resistant enterococcus 1015:10.2165/00003088-200342070-00001 869:. US Centers for Disease Control 85:relies largely or entirely on a 74: 1328: 1296: 1260: 1227: 1184: 1151: 1116: 1059: 1037: 994: 510:gastroesophageal reflux disease 1084:10.1002/14651858.CD009435.pub2 963: 932: 911: 890: 881: 810: 776:Ciment, J. (5 February 2000). 769: 741: 485: 1: 735: 715:due to the risk of permanent 1068:"Oral isotretinoin for acne" 677:Food and Drug Administration 639:Monoamine oxidase inhibitors 373:Rocky Mountain spotted fever 303:— used for life-threatening 7: 723: 283: 65: 10: 1379: 245:(sometimes referred to as 18: 1205:10.1017/S109285291200003X 1003:Clinical Pharmacokinetics 681:erythema nodosum leprosum 679:approved thalidomide for 217:World Health Organization 52:antineoplastic resistance 1158:Mann, Samuel J. (2012). 794:10.1136/bmj.320.7231.336 697:— used in patients with 512:(GERD); carries risk of 496:irritable bowel syndrome 423:HIV attachment inhibitor 381:bacterial conjunctivitis 359:urinary tract infections 48:antimicrobial resistance 19:Not to be confused with 1131:(1): 2. March 1, 1980. 455:reactive encephalopathy 447:African trypanosomiasis 383:, and systemically for 270:unpleasant side effects 363:Gram-negative bacteria 1358:Clinical pharmacology 612:acutely decompensated 341:Staphylococcus aureus 247:vancomycin resistant 200:Staphylococcus aureus 113:"Drug of last resort" 835:10.1128/AAC.01293-15 431:HIV capsid inhibitor 98:improve this article 699:Parkinson's disease 687:(administered with 647:hypertensive crisis 562:used in refractory 335:— fifth-generation 323:imipenem/cilastatin 56:multidrug-resistant 40:pharmaceutical drug 34:), also known as a 28:drug of last resort 1363:Medical treatments 1137:10.1007/BF03292651 651:serotonin syndrome 645:which may trigger 534:are not effective. 528:alcohol withdrawal 508:— used for severe 401:gray baby syndrome 387:when allergies to 1316:on 18 August 2017 1177:978-1-4422-1517-7 939:Pepin, J (2014). 829:(11): 6677–6681. 643:drug interactions 514:heart arrhythmias 442:T. b. rhodesiense 305:fungal infections 163: 162: 148: 1370: 1343: 1342: 1340: 1332: 1326: 1325: 1323: 1321: 1315: 1308: 1300: 1294: 1293: 1282:10.5414/CP201898 1264: 1258: 1257: 1241: 1231: 1225: 1224: 1188: 1182: 1181: 1165: 1155: 1149: 1148: 1120: 1114: 1113: 1103: 1078:(11): CD009435. 1063: 1057: 1056: 1054: 1052: 1041: 1035: 1034: 998: 992: 991: 989: 988: 982: 975: 967: 961: 960: 958: 956: 936: 930: 929: 928:. 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Lundbeck. 1199:(1): 2–10. 1045:"Felbamate" 717:vision loss 673:tetraamelia 665:Thalidomide 550:myocarditis 486:Other drugs 467:Tigecycline 437:Melarsoprol 427:lenacapavir 419:Fostemsavir 412:Pseudomonas 377:doxycycline 355:Cefiderocol 333:ceftaroline 319:Carbapenems 239:intravenous 183:antibiotics 36:heroic dose 1352:Categories 987:2019-12-21 736:References 709:Vigabatrin 669:phocomelia 631:, however 610:— used in 598:depression 590:nosebleeds 478:Legionella 389:penicillin 385:meningitis 235:Vancomycin 187:antivirals 154:March 2020 124:newspapers 46:, such as 1221:206312008 1145:198213029 1092:1469-493X 695:Tolcapone 625:minoxidil 602:hair loss 592:, causes 556:Felbamate 538:Clozapine 506:Cisapride 492:Alosetron 461:Linezolid 321:(such as 278:cisapride 258:linezolid 254:S. aureus 249:S. aureus 243:S. aureus 225:S. aureus 213:S. aureus 209:S. aureus 205:S. aureus 94:talk page 1290:23993253 1213:22790112 1125:InPharma 1110:30484286 1031:25525638 1023:12844323 949:Archived 873:12 March 853:26259797 724:See also 713:epilepsy 564:epilepsy 546:seizures 524:sedative 445:type of 407:Colistin 284:Examples 66:Purposes 1101:6383843 955:27 July 844:4604384 803:1173548 649:and/or 633:topical 375:(until 264:(VRE). 138:scholar 38:, is a 1320:22 May 1288:  1250:  1219:  1211:  1174:  1143:  1108:  1098:  1090:  1051:19 May 1029:  1021:  851:  841:  800:  759:  425:) and 189:, and 168:sepsis 140:  133:  126:  119:  111:  1339:(PDF) 1314:(PDF) 1307:(PDF) 1217:S2CID 1141:S2CID 1027:S2CID 981:(PDF) 974:(PDF) 922:(PDF) 901:(PDF) 659:SNRIs 655:SSRIs 586:sebum 558:— an 530:when 145:JSTOR 131:books 1322:2017 1286:PMID 1248:ISBN 1209:PMID 1172:ISBN 1106:PMID 1088:ISSN 1076:2018 1053:2013 1019:PMID 957:2024 887:RMSF 875:2014 849:PMID 757:ISBN 627:for 622:Oral 582:acne 570:and 548:and 522:— a 475:and 453:and 429:(an 421:(an 399:and 345:MRSA 331:and 307:and 117:news 32:DoLR 1278:doi 1244:238 1201:doi 1133:doi 1129:229 1096:PMC 1080:doi 1011:doi 839:PMC 831:doi 798:PMC 790:doi 786:320 782:BMJ 671:or 657:or 391:or 170:or 100:by 50:or 1354:: 1284:. 1274:51 1272:. 1246:. 1215:. 1207:. 1197:17 1195:. 1170:. 1168:90 1139:. 1127:. 1104:. 1094:. 1086:. 1074:. 1070:. 1025:. 1017:. 1007:42 1005:. 947:. 943:. 924:. 903:. 847:. 837:. 827:59 825:. 821:. 796:. 784:. 780:. 600:, 311:; 280:. 185:, 62:. 26:A 1324:. 1292:. 1280:: 1256:. 1223:. 1203:: 1180:. 1147:. 1135:: 1112:. 1082:: 1055:. 1033:. 1013:: 990:. 959:. 877:. 855:. 833:: 806:. 792:: 765:. 719:. 705:. 574:. 552:. 516:. 351:. 343:( 156:) 152:( 142:· 135:· 128:· 121:· 104:. 90:. 30:( 23:.

Index

Heroic medicine
pharmaceutical drug
Drug resistance
antimicrobial resistance
antineoplastic resistance
multidrug-resistant
salvage therapy

single source
talk page
improve this article
introducing citations to additional sources
"Drug of last resort"
news
newspapers
books
scholar
JSTOR
sepsis
septic shock
dose-response
antibiotics
antivirals
chemotherapy
Staphylococcus aureus
World Health Organization
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Vancomycin
intravenous
vancomycin resistant S. aureus

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