Camphor

612 Candesartan cilexetil

Campanulaceae

Camphor

See also Herbal medicines

General Information General Information The genera in the family of Campanulaceae (Table 1) include lobelia and Venus’ looking glass.

The symptoms of systemic camphor poisoning have been reviewed (1).

Organs and Systems Table 1 The genera of Campanulaceae Asyneuma (harebell) Brighamia (brighamia) Campanula (bell flower) Campanulastrum (bell flower) Canarina (canarina) Clermontia (clermontia) Cyanea (cyanea) Delissea (delissea) Downingia (calico flower) Gadellia (gadellia) Githopsis (bluecup) Heterocodon (heterocodon) Hippobroma (hippobroma) Howellia (howellia) Jasione (jasione) Legenere (false Venus’ looking glass) Legousia (legousia) Lobelia (lobelia) Nemacladus (threadplant) Parishella (parishella) Platycodon (platycodon) Porterella (porterella) Rollandia (rollandia) Trematolobelia (false lobelia) Triodanis (Venus’ looking-glass) Wahlenbergia (wahlenbergia)

Nervous system Systemic nervous system adverse reactions after cutaneous contact with camphor have been reported (2). 

A 15-month-old child had crawled through spirits of camphor containing 10% camphor. Over the next 48 hours he became progressively ataxic and had several brief generalized motor seizures. The seizures persisted for 2 days despite appropriate therapy. Over 15 days he slowly improved; recovery in motor and mental function was eventually complete. The child had no further seizures until 1 year later, when a camphorated vaporizer containing 4.81% camphor was administered by the mother. During inhalation there was a brief major motor seizure.

Breathing difficulties, convulsions, and coma have been reported after repeated topical application of camphorcontaining agents (3). Skin 

A woman developed severe eczema of the ears, neck, and upper chest after having applied Earex ear drops. Patch tests with rectified camphor oil were positive on days 2 and 4 (4).

References Lobelia inflata Lobelia inflata (Indian tobacco) contains lobeline and other pyridine alkaloids. It has been used as an emetic, antidepressant, respiratory stimulant, an aid to smoking cessation, and a treatment for metamfetamine abuse (1).

Adverse effects Lobeline has peripheral effects similar to those of nicotine, whereas its central activity may be different. It has been associated with nausea, vomiting, headache, tremors, and dizziness. Symptoms caused by overdosage include profuse sweating, paresis, tachycardia, hypertension, Cheyne-Stokes respiration, hypothermia, coma, and death. Large doses are convulsant.

1. American academy of Pediatrics. Committee on Drugs. Camphor: who needs it? Pediatrics 1978;62(3):404–6. 2. Skoglund RR, Ware LL Jr, Schanberger JE. Prolonged seizures due to contact and inhalation exposure to camphor. A case report. Clin Pediatr (Phila) 1977;16(10):901–2. 3. Gossweiler B. Kampfervergiftungen heute. [Poisoning by camphor today.] Schweiz Rundsch Med Prax 1982; 71(38):1475–8. 4. Stevenson OE, Finch TM. Allergic contact dermatitis from rectified camphor oil in Earex ear drops. Contact Dermatitis 2003;49(1):51.

Candesartan cilexetil See also Angiotensin II receptor antagonists

Reference

General Information

1. Dwoskin LP, Crooks PA. A novel mechanism of action and potential use for lobeline as a treatment for psychostimulant abuse. Biochem Pharmacol 2002;63(2):89–98.

Candesartan cilexetil is the prodrug of candesartan, an angiotensin II type 1 (AT1) receptor antagonist. Absorbed candesartan cilexetil is completely metabolized to candesartan. Candesartan has a half-life of about 9 hours (slightly longer in elderly people).

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