Furazolidone
Indications
Furazolidone is used for:
Giardiasis; Cholera
Adult Dose
Oral
Giardiasis; Cholera
Adult: 100 mg 4 times daily. Usual duration: 2-5 days, up to 7 days in some patients or 10 days for giardiasis.
Child Dose
Oral
Giardiasis; Cholera
Child: 1.25 mg/kg 4 times daily, usually given for 2-5 days or up to 10 days for giardiasis.
Renal Dose
Administration
Contra Indications
Hypersensitivity, infants <1 mth. Alcohol.
Precautions
Pregnancy, lactation, G6PD deficiency.
Pregnancy-Lactation
Interactions
Disulfiram-like reaction with alcohol. Potential hypertensive crisis with sympathomimetics, tyramine-containing foods, levodopa.
Potentially Fatal: Potentiation of MAOIs. Toxic psychosis with amitriptyline.
Adverse Effects
Side effects of Furazolidone :
Hypersensitivity, hypoglycaemia, orthostatic hypotension, dizziness, drowsiness, headache, malaise, nausea, vomiting, rash, fever, arthralgia, brown urine, haemolytic anaemia.
Potentially Fatal: Agranulocytosis. Hypertensive crisis with MAOIs.
Mechanism of Action
Furazolidone has a broad antibacterial spectrum which is active against susceptible organisms including E. coli, staphylococci, Giardia sp. and against salmonella, shigella, proteus, and V. cholerae. Its bactericidal action is by interfering with bacterial enzyme systems.