Sodium phenylbutyrate
Sodium phenylbutyrate
Sodium phenylbutyrate (pronunciation: SO-dee-um fen-il-BYOO-ti-rate) is a medication used for the treatment of urea cycle disorders, specifically for those who lack certain enzymes that help process amino acids in the body.
Etymology
The term "sodium phenylbutyrate" is derived from its chemical composition. "Sodium" refers to the sodium salt form of the drug, "phenyl" refers to the phenyl group present in the molecule, and "butyrate" refers to the butyric acid component of the drug.
Usage
Sodium phenylbutyrate works by helping the body get rid of excess nitrogen. Nitrogen is a natural substance that the body can't get rid of if a person has a urea cycle disorder. Sodium phenylbutyrate is a prodrug, which means that it's converted into a different drug (phenylacetate) in the body.
Related Terms
- Urea cycle disorders: A group of genetic disorders caused by a mutation that results in a deficiency of one of the six enzymes in the urea cycle. These disorders often result in high levels of ammonia in the blood.
- Enzymes: Proteins that act as catalysts within living cells, regulating the rate at which chemical reactions proceed without itself being altered in the process.
- Amino acids: Organic compounds that combine to form proteins. Amino acids and proteins are fundamental components of all living cells.
- Prodrug: A medication or compound that, after administration, is metabolized into a pharmacologically active drug.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Sodium phenylbutyrate
- Wikipedia's article - Sodium phenylbutyrate
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