A dose-ranging study of labetalol in moderate to moderately severe hypertension.

Labetalol optimal doses for Indonesian patients were investigated in an open, multicentre, unforced titration dose-finding study involving 134 essential hypertensive outpatients with baseline supine DBP (SuDBP) of 105-129 mmHg. Labetalol was started at 50 mg bid and as necessary increased by 50 mg bid every 2 weeks. Evaluable for efficacy were 105 moderate and 25 moderately severe hypertensives.

Metabolic disposition of proguanil in extensive and poor metabolisers of S-mephenytoin 4'-hydroxylation recruited from an Indonesian population.

1. The metabolism of proguanil (PG) was studied by measuring PG, cycloguanil (CG) and 4-chlorophenylbiguanide (CPB) in plasma and urine samples after an oral 200 mg dose of PG hydrochloride administered to 14 extensive (EMs) and 10 poor hydroxylators (PMs) of S-mephenytoin of Indonesian origin. 2.

Dapsone N-acetylation, metoprolol alpha-hydroxylation, and S-mephenytoin 4-hydroxylation polymorphisms in an Indonesian population: a cocktail and extended phenotyping assessment trial.

We examined dapsone N-acetylation and metoprolol alpha-hydroxylation and S-mephenytoin 4-hydroxylation phenotypings using the respective test probes (dapsone and racemic metoprolol and mephenytoin) administered separately and in a cocktail manner to an Indonesian subject group (n = 30). After ascertaining that the separate and cocktail phenotyping tests of the probe drugs correlated with each other (all rs values > 0.84; p < 0.

The Indonesian Drug Advisory Committee and the drug approval process.

The Indonesian Food and Drug Agency began to evaluate drug applications in the early 1970s through an Advisory Committee. This was in response to the perestroika-like policy applied to our drug industry; nowadays there are more than 300 drug companies formulating some 13,5600 drug products. During 1977-1988, 603 drugs were evaluated by the Advisory Committee; 66% were single drugs and 34% were fixed dose combinations.

A dose-ranging study of phenylpropanolamine on nasal airflow.

A double-blind randomized placebo-controlled study comparing the effect of 2-dose levels of phenylpropanolamine (PPA) for acute rhinitis was performed in 180 outpatients. PPA was given in a fixed dose combination with paracetamol, chlorpheniramine and vitamin C. Two doses of each drug were given with a 4-h interval.

Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of controlled release (CR/ZOK) metoprolol in healthy Oriental subjects: a comparison with conventional formulations of metoprolol and atenolol.

The steady state pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of metoprolol controlled release tablets 100 mg CR/ZOK, was compared with those of metoprolol conventional tablets 100 mg (CT) and atenolol 50 mg (ATL) in ten healthy Oriental men. The study was of double-blind, cross-over placebo controlled design. The three study drugs and placebo were given in a random order once daily for 4 consecutive days with 1-week wash-out between each period.

The assessment of risks, benefits and availability of non-narcotic analgesics. A commonsense approach.

In Indonesia, about 50% of all available non-narcotic analgesics are marketed as single drugs and the other half comprise fixed combination products. Each country should decide through a national drug policy which drugs are to be available, but it is important such policies be flexible and cognisant of the needs of the public and of the pharmaceutical industry. A drug should not be withdrawn from the market without an objective scientific assessment of its benefit-risk ratio.

A multinational comparison of drug treatment in patients with cerebrovascular disease.

We have compared the frequency with which various drugs were used in patients with cerebrovascular disease in five countries (UK, Italy, Indonesia, Spain and Yugoslavia). There were very large variations in the use of anti-oedema agents, 'cerebral vasodilators', and vitamins, which were not explained by differences in the populations studied. This variation has probably less to do with any scientific validation for the various treatments, which in most cases does not exist, than with medical 'fashion' and commercial pressures.

An Asian perspective on drug and related health care information.

To ensure that drugs are available in adequate quantity and quality for the health needs of the population and properly used, Asian governments in the past decades have exercised their sovereign rights quite independently and differently. A high number of patients per prescribing physician has consequences for drug information, in regard to both prescribers and consumers needing to self-medicate. To reliably inform patients through physicians, pharmacists, or medical auxiliary personnel is of great importance in the face of an illiteracy problem.