Pyritinol Explained

Verifiedfields:changed
Verifiedrevid:464377508
Iupac Name:5,5'-[dithiobis(methylene)]bis[4-(hydroxymethyl)-2-methylpyridin-3-ol]
Elimination Half-Life:2.5 hours
Cas Number:1098-97-1
Atc Prefix:N06
Atc Suffix:BX02
Pubchem:14190
Chemspiderid:13561
Unii:AK5Q5FZH2R
Kegg:D02160
Chembl:488093
C:16
H:20
N:2
O:4
S:2
Smiles:Oc1c(c(cnc1C)CSSCc2c(c(O)c(nc2)C)CO)CO
Stdinchi:1S/C16H20N2O4S2/c1-9-15(21)13(5-19)11(3-17-9)7-23-24-8-12-4-18-10(2)16(22)14(12)6-20/h3-4,19-22H,5-8H2,1-2H3
Stdinchikey:SIXLXDIJGIWWFU-UHFFFAOYSA-N

Pyritinol also called pyridoxine disulfide or pyrithioxine (European drug names Encephabol, Encefabol, Cerbon 6) is a semi-synthetic water-soluble analog of vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine HCl). It was produced in 1961 by Merck Laboratories by bonding 2 vitamin B6 compounds (pyridoxine) together with a disulfide bridge. Since the 1970s, it has been a prescription and OTC drug in several countries for cognitive disorders, rheumatoid arthritis,[1] and learning disorders in children. Since the early 1990s it has been sold as a nootropic dietary supplement in the United States.

Availability

It is approved for "symptomatic treatment of chronically impaired brain function in dementia syndromes" and for "supportive treatment of sequelae of craniocerebral trauma" in various European countries, including Austria, Germany, France, Italy, Portugal, and Greece. In France it is also approved for rheumatoid arthritis as a disease modifying drug, on the basis of the results of clinical trials. In many countries it is available over the counter and is widely advertised on the internet as being for "memory disturbances."

Effects

review refs needed

Adverse effects

Adverse effects include nausea, headache,[2] and rarely allergic reaction (mild skin reactions).[3] A 2004 survey of six case reports suggested a link between pyritinol and severe cholestatic hepatitis when on several drugs for certain diseases.[4]

Other rare side effects: acute pancreatitis[5] and photoallergic eruption.[6]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Lemmel EM . Comparison of pyritinol and auranofin in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. The European Multicentre Study Group . British Journal of Rheumatology . 32 . 5 . 375–82 . May 1993 . 8495257 . 10.1093/rheumatology/32.5.375 .
  2. Nachbar F, Korting HC, Vogl T . Erythema multiforme-like eruption in association with severe headache following pyritinol . Dermatology . 187 . 1 . 42–6 . 1993 . 8324277 . 10.1159/000247196 .
  3. Book: Unwanted Effects of Cosmetics and Drugs Used in Dermatology . de Groot AC, Nater JP, Weyland JW . Elsevier . 1994 . 978-0-444-89775-6 . 307 .
  4. Maria V, Albuquerque A, Loureiro A, Sousa A, Victorino R . Severe cholestatic hepatitis induced by pyritinol . BMJ . 328 . 7439 . 572–4 . March 2004 . 15001508 . 381054 . 10.1136/bmj.328.7439.572 .
  5. Straumann A, Bauer M, Pichler WJ, Pirovino M . Acute pancreatitis due to pyritinol: an immune-mediated phenomenon . Gastroenterology . 115 . 2 . 452–4 . August 1998 . 9679051 . 10.1016/S0016-5085(98)70212-4 . free .
  6. Tanaka M, Niizeki H, Shimizu S, Miyakawa S . Photoallergic drug eruption due to pyridoxine hydrochloride . The Journal of Dermatology . 23 . 10 . 708–9 . October 1996 . 8973037 . 10.1111/j.1346-8138.1996.tb02685.x . 28810619 .