AboutDr Alan Galbraith Expertise I can answer most questions on drugs, both medical and "recreational". Answers can be given in either technical or layperson terminology. My main areas of interest are psychiatric, gastrointestinal and cardiovascular drugs.
Experience I have been a university lecturer/head of department for almost thirty years, but am now retired. My research interests were alcohol, smoking and cardiovascular disease. I am already a well established and highly rated expert in the pharmacy section of this site.
Publications Principal author of "Fundamentals of Pharmacology" Editions 1-4 published between 1994 and 2004 by Pearson Education, Australia. Author of the 5th edition published 2007.
Author of many scientific papers.
Education/Credentials BSc(Hons);MSc;PhD;HECert
Awards and Honors The 4th edition of my textbook was awarded the the Educational Book of the Year Award in Australia.
Past/Present Clients See my profile in the pharmacy section.
Question What factors apart from genetic polymorphisms would alter the rate of metabolism of sulphadimidine in an individual?
Answer Dear Sara
You obviously understand the science behind drug interactions to mention polymorphisms etc, so I'll be more scientific than usual. I also take it that you are English using the "ph" instead of "f" and I prefer the "ph". It seems that sulphadimidine is more likely to affect the metabolism of other drugs rather than the other way round as it is an inhibitor of the cytochrome P450 system. As its metabolism is by simple acetylation there is not much scope for other drugs to affect its rate of metabolism. Adverse affects due to displacement by protein binding has been recently thrown out of the window so we can discount the reported protein binding interference by other drugs. Diuretics can lead to retention but this is not a metabolic effect. Therefore, all I seem to left with is genetic factors ie glucose-6 phosphatase deficiency which you already know.
