Antimetabolites are drugs that interfere with cellular metabolism and can be used in cancer therapy and treatment for bacterial infections. They mimic compounds found in the body and can block or change metabolic processes. Antimetabolites can be dangerous if not administered correctly and are generally only available by prescription.
An antimetabolite is a drug that interferes with normal cellular metabolism. These drugs can be used in various ways in medical treatment, from cancer therapy to treatment for bacterial infection, and pharmaceutical companies are constantly developing promising new drugs in this class. Antimetabolites work by mimicking the actions of a compound normally found in the body to participate in biochemical reactions within a cell, thereby disrupting cellular metabolism by blocking or changing the actions of a metabolic process.
Structurally, antimetabolites look like chemicals found in the body. They can compete at receptor sites and trick the body into thinking they are chemicals that the body is producing and would normally use. One use of an antimetabolite is to block a process altogether by preventing a metabolite from working. These chemicals can also alter chemical reactions to change the outcome.
In the treatment of infections, antimetabolites can be used that disrupt the metabolism of infectious microorganisms without harming the host. These drugs often work by interfering with DNA production, preventing infectious organisms from reproducing and exchanging genetic material. They can also interfere with the production of enzymes necessary for physical function, killing organisms by halting their normal metabolic processes.
With cancers, antimetabolites can be turned against the body itself. These drugs may be designed to target cancer cells and stop them from dividing and reproducing, causing tumors to stop growing. This may provide an opening for other treatments to shrink the tumor. Some examples of antimetabolite drugs used in medical treatment include folic acid antagonists, pyrimidine antagonists, and purine antagonists.
These drugs can be dangerous if they are not administered correctly, especially in the case of anticancer drugs, since anticancer drugs are dangerous to human cells. It is important to calculate the dosages appropriately and to administer the drug to the right area of the body. Doctors are also concerned with correctly identifying the origins of a cancer so they use the right drug in the first place, choosing an antimetabolite that will target rogue cells while causing minimal damage to nearby healthy cells.
Antimetabolites are generally only available by prescription, and some are only offered in clinical settings. This is designed to ensure that drugs are used correctly and to reduce the risks of developing drug resistance in organisms sensitized to these drugs. It is important to follow dosage and administration instructions carefully and to avoid sharing antimetabolite drugs with other people.
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