How to Explain Phenylbutazone

America's pharmaceutical industry churns out new drugs every day, each a mix of alchemy and innovation. Most are named for chemicals that go into these formularies, hence the unwieldy, multi-syllabic names attached to the prescriptions your doctor writes. In the case of phenylbutazone, the brand name "butazolidine" isn't much easier to pronounce, but it's a start. Once you've got the name down, you'll want to know everything about this powerful drug, which is used by veterinary medical professionals in the United States but is no longer available for sale to humans, before you tell others about it.

Instructions

• 1

  Explain the drug's pharmacological class using the following definition. This formulary is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug that belongs in the NSAID class of drugs manufactured to treat fever, pain, and inflammation.

• 2

  Communicate information about how phenylbutazone works. Advise pain sufferers that this drug has been prescribed to relieve inflamed joints and muscles, following mild to moderate symptoms resulting from injury, menstrual cramps, and musculoskeletal conditions like arthritis and gout.

• 3

  Describe the potential risk of bone marrow damage resulting from phenylbutazone's propensity for causing dangerously low white blood count drops in some people as well as most doctors' reluctance to prescribe the drug for extended periods of time.

• 4

  Tell the person you're advising about the availability of a genetic alternative to the brand name, should they wish to order the drug from a non-domestic market or to treat a pet while saving money on 100mg (standard dosage) capsules or tablets.

• 5

  Explain drug interactions like allergic reactions and exacerbation of peptic ulcers, adding in the fact that this drug can damage kidneys and may cause life-threatening reactions if taken with blood thinners. Warn against this drug if a sufferer is taking lithium and ask them to discontinue use at least three days before surgery is scheduled.

• 6

  List all side effects triggered by phenylbutazone, including gastrointestinal problems, abdominal burning, cramping, nausea, gastritis, pain and stomach ulcers, spontaneous bleeding, weakness, and black tarry stools. Advise pregnant and nursing mothers to avoid phenylbutazone.

• 7

  Inform interested parties that phenylbutazone continues to be the drug of choice for veterinarians treating animals for a variety of inflammatory diseases and musculoskeletal disorders. Add this advisory to your explanation: Animals tend to experience the same types of side effects as humans, the most dramatic of which have been observed in smaller animals.

• 8

  Caution those planning to take phenylbutazone that dangerous overdoses of this powerful drug have lead to this pharmaceutical being taken off the American market for use by humans. Add that anyone obtaining this drug from a veterinarian or overseas source should keep on hand the phone number for the National Poison Control Center (1-800-222-1222) or call 911, if they suspect they're suffering a reaction after ingesting phenylbutazone.