ETHIONAMIDE Meaning and
Definition
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Ethionamide is a synthetic antimicrobial agent that belongs to the class of drugs known as thioamides. It is primarily used in the medical field as a second-line drug for the treatment of tuberculosis infections caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains that have developed resistance to the first-line drugs. Ethionamide works by inhibiting the synthesis of mycolic acid, a crucial component of the mycobacterial cell wall, which is essential for the survival and replication of the bacteria.
Due to its mechanism of action, ethionamide is specifically effective against drug-resistant strains of tuberculosis, including those that are resistant to isoniazid, the most commonly used first-line drug for tuberculosis treatment. This makes it a valuable therapeutic option in the management of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis cases.
Ethionamide is typically administered orally and is known to be rapidly absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract. It is metabolized in the liver and its metabolites are excreted primarily through urine. Common side effects of this drug include gastrointestinal disturbances (such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea), neurological effects (such as dizziness and headache), and rare occasions of hepatotoxicity. Therefore, patients taking ethionamide are closely monitored for any signs of adverse effects.
In conclusion, ethionamide is a chemotherapeutic agent used to treat drug-resistant tuberculosis infections. It is effective against strains that have developed resistance to first-line drugs, making it a valuable adjunctive treatment option in the management of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis cases.
Common Misspellings for ETHIONAMIDE
- wthionamide
- sthionamide
- dthionamide
- rthionamide
- 4thionamide
- 3thionamide
- erhionamide
- efhionamide
- eghionamide
- eyhionamide
- e6hionamide
- e5hionamide
- etgionamide
- etbionamide
- etnionamide
- etjionamide
- etuionamide
- etyionamide
- ethuonamide
- ethjonamide
Etymology of ETHIONAMIDE
The word "ethionamide" is derived from the combination of two elements, "ethio-" and "-amide".
The prefix "ethio-" originates from the Greek word "ethos", meaning "character" or "nature", which is commonly used in the scientific naming of chemical compounds. In pharmaceutical terms, it usually refers to the group of drugs that contain a sulfur atom in their chemical structure.
The suffix "-amide" is derived from the Latin word "amidus", which means "derived from ammonia". In chemistry, "-amide" is used as a suffix to indicate the presence of the carbonyl functional group (-C=O) bonded to a nitrogen atom.
Therefore, combining the "ethio-" prefix (indicating the presence of a sulfur atom) with the "-amide" suffix (indicating the presence of a carbonyl bonded to a nitrogen atom) results in the word "ethionamide".
