Fowler's solution
Encyclopedia
Fowler's solution is a solution containing potassium arsenite
that once was prescribed as a remedy or a tonic. A Dr. Fowler of Stafford
, England proposed its use in 1786 as a substitute for a patent medicine
, "tasteless ague
drop." It was prescribed in the United States until the late 1950s for a range of ailments including malaria
, chorea, and syphilis
. In 2001 the U.S. FDA approved a proprietary formula of a solution of arsenic trioxide
for acute promyelocytic leukaemia.
Fowler's solution, also known as "Liquor Potassii Arenitis," Kali Arsenicosum or Kali arseniatum, is a 1% solution of potassium arsenite
, KH2AsO 3.
Because of the poisonous and carcinogen
ic nature of arsenic
compounds, Fowler's solution is dangerous. Documented side effect
s of treatment with Fowler's solution include: cirrhosis of the liver, idiopathic
portal hypertension
, urinary bladder cancer
, skin cancer
s.
Potassium arsenite
Potassium arsenite is the compound which forms the basis of Fowler's solution and is used as a specific rodenticide. It is toxic in humans.- Safety and health concerns :...
that once was prescribed as a remedy or a tonic. A Dr. Fowler of Stafford
Stafford
Stafford is the county town of Staffordshire, in the West Midlands region of England. It lies approximately north of Wolverhampton and south of Stoke-on-Trent, adjacent to the M6 motorway Junction 13 to Junction 14...
, England proposed its use in 1786 as a substitute for a patent medicine
Patent medicine
Patent medicine refers to medical compounds of questionable effectiveness sold under a variety of names and labels. The term "patent medicine" is somewhat of a misnomer because, in most cases, although many of the products were trademarked, they were never patented...
, "tasteless ague
Ague
Ague may refer to:* Fever* MalariaSee also:* Kan Ague, a residential area of Patikul, Sulu, Philippines...
drop." It was prescribed in the United States until the late 1950s for a range of ailments including malaria
Malaria
Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease of humans and other animals caused by eukaryotic protists of the genus Plasmodium. The disease results from the multiplication of Plasmodium parasites within red blood cells, causing symptoms that typically include fever and headache, in severe cases...
, chorea, and syphilis
Syphilis
Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection caused by the spirochete bacterium Treponema pallidum subspecies pallidum. The primary route of transmission is through sexual contact; however, it may also be transmitted from mother to fetus during pregnancy or at birth, resulting in congenital syphilis...
. In 2001 the U.S. FDA approved a proprietary formula of a solution of arsenic trioxide
Arsenic trioxide
Arsenic trioxide is the inorganic compound with the formula As2O3. This commercially important oxide of arsenic is the main precursor to other arsenic compounds, including organoarsenic compounds. Approximately 50,000 tonnes are produced annually...
for acute promyelocytic leukaemia.
Fowler's solution, also known as "Liquor Potassii Arenitis," Kali Arsenicosum or Kali arseniatum, is a 1% solution of potassium arsenite
Potassium arsenite
Potassium arsenite is the compound which forms the basis of Fowler's solution and is used as a specific rodenticide. It is toxic in humans.- Safety and health concerns :...
, KH2
Because of the poisonous and carcinogen
Carcinogen
A carcinogen is any substance, radionuclide, or radiation that is an agent directly involved in causing cancer. This may be due to the ability to damage the genome or to the disruption of cellular metabolic processes...
ic nature of arsenic
Arsenic
Arsenic is a chemical element with the symbol As, atomic number 33 and relative atomic mass 74.92. Arsenic occurs in many minerals, usually in conjunction with sulfur and metals, and also as a pure elemental crystal. It was first documented by Albertus Magnus in 1250.Arsenic is a metalloid...
compounds, Fowler's solution is dangerous. Documented side effect
Adverse drug reaction
An adverse drug reaction is an expression that describes harm associated with the use of given medications at a normal dosage. ADRs may occur following a single dose or prolonged administration of a drug or result from the combination of two or more drugs...
s of treatment with Fowler's solution include: cirrhosis of the liver, idiopathic
Idiopathic
Idiopathic is an adjective used primarily in medicine meaning arising spontaneously or from an obscure or unknown cause. From Greek ἴδιος, idios + πάθος, pathos , it means approximately "a disease of its own kind". It is technically a term from nosology, the classification of disease...
portal hypertension
Portal hypertension
In medicine, portal hypertension is hypertension in the portal vein and its tributaries.It is often defined as a portal pressure gradient of 10 mmHg or greater.-Causes:Causes can be divided into prehepatic, intrahepatic, and posthepatic...
, urinary bladder cancer
Bladder cancer
Bladder cancer is any of several types of malignant growths of the urinary bladder. It is a disease in which abnormal cells multiply without control in the bladder. The bladder is a hollow, muscular organ that stores urine; it is located in the pelvis...
, skin cancer
Skin cancer
Skin neoplasms are skin growths with differing causes and varying degrees of malignancy. The three most common malignant skin cancers are basal cell cancer, squamous cell cancer, and melanoma, each of which is named after the type of skin cell from which it arises...
s.