New Class of Drugs may Have Many Uses

Ivanhoe Newswire

(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- From bad menstrual pain to psychotic disorders and a lot of things in between, theres a new class of drugs called vaptons that may be able to help.

Vaptons suppress the receptors for vasopressin, a hormone that plays an important role in circulatory and water control.

The FDA has approved only one vaptan medication so far. Its called conivaptan (Vaprisol), which is used to treat patients who have low sodium. Unlike the diuretics on the market now, conivaptan gets rid of excess water without causing a loss of mineral salts, which can be dangerous. That makes it potentially beneficial in treating a variety of conditions including some types of kidney disease, diabetic nephropathy, cirrhosis and depression.

Another subclass of the vaptans has been successful in treating painful periods, Raynauds disease -- which affects blood flow to the extremities -- and can help prevent premature labor and premature birth.

Preliminary studies of vaptans also investigate the treatment of glaucoma, brain hemorrhage, inner ear disorders affecting hearing and balance and even small cell cancer associated with the lung.

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SOURCE: The Lancet, May 2008

Last updated 5/13/2008.

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