ATC Group: R07A Other respiratory system products

Almitrine is a diphenylmethylpiperazine derivative and respiratory stimulant that enhances respiration by acting as an agonist of peripheral chemoreceptors located on the carotid bodies. It is used in the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. It is also reported to have a potentially beneficial effect in treating the noctural oxygen desaturation without impairing the quality of sleep.

Bacterial lysates are powerful inducers of a specific locoregional immune response that significantly enhance the concentration of antibodies directed to antigenic structures of bacteria most commonly observed during infections of the upper respiratory tract.

Bemegride is a CNS stimulant that is used to induce convulsions in experimental animals. It has also been used as a respiratory stimulant and in the treatment of barbiturate overdose. Bemegride is an antidote for barbiturate poisoning. Bemegride has being shown to have an antagonistic action on the GABAA receptor.

Doxapram is an analeptic agent (a stimulant of the central nervous system). Doxapram produces respiratory stimulation mediated through the peripheral carotid chemoreceptors. It is thought to stimulate the carotid body by inhibiting certain potassium channels. Used as temporary measure in hospitalized patients with acute respiratory insufficiency superimposed on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Ivacaftor is a potentiator of the CFTR protein, i.e., in vitro ivacaftor increases CFTR channel gating to enhance chloride transport in specified gating mutations with reduced channel-open probability compared to normal CFTR. Ivacaftor also potentiated the channel-open probability of R117H-CFTR, which has both low channel-open probability (gating) and reduced channel current amplitude (conductance).

The combined effect of lumacaftor and ivacaftor is increased quantity and function of F508delCFTR at the cell surface, resulting in increased chloride ion transport. The exact mechanisms by which lumacaftor improves cellular processing and trafficking of F508delCFTR and ivacaftor potentiates F508del-CFTR are not known.

Elexacaftor and tezacaftor are CFTR correctors that bind to different sites on the CFTR protein and have an additive effect in facilitating the cellular processing and trafficking of F508del-CFTR to increase the amount of CFTR protein delivered to the cell surface compared to either molecule alone. Ivacaftor potentiates the channel open probability (or gating) of the CFTR protein at the cell surface. The combined effect of elexacaftor, tezacaftor and ivacaftor is increased quantity and function of F508del-CFTR at the cell surface, resulting in increased CFTR activity as measured by CFTR mediated chloride transport.

Nitric oxide is a compound produced by many cells of the body. It relaxes vascular smooth muscle by binding to the haeme moiety of cytosolic guanylate cyclase. When inhaled, nitric oxide produces selective pulmonary vasodilation.