Nitazoxanide
Indications
Nitazoxanide is used for:
Giardiasis, Cryptosporidiosis
Adult Dose
Oral
Giardiasis; Cryptosporidiosis
Adult: 500 mg every 12 hr for 3 days.
Child Dose
Oral
Giardiasis; Cryptosporidiosis
Child:
1-3 yr: 100 mg(5 ml) every 12 hr;
4-11 yr: 200 mg(10ml) every 12 hr;
>12 yr: 500 mg every 12 hr.
All doses to be taken for 3 days.
Renal Dose
Administration
Should be taken with food.
Contra Indications
Hypersensitivity.
Precautions
Renal and hepatic impairment. Pregnancy and lactation. Children <1 yr.
Pregnancy-Lactation
Interactions
May possibly interact with highly protein-bound drugs e.g. warfarin.
Adverse Effects
Side effects of Nitazoxanide :
1-10%
Headache (1%),Abdominal pain (8%),Diarrhea (2%),Nausea (3%),Chromaturia (2%),Vomiting (1%)
<1%
Increased ALT,Anorexia,Appetite increased,Creatinine increased,Diaphoresis,Dizziness,Eye discoloration (pale yellow),Fever,Flatulence,Infection,Malaise,Pruritus,Thinitis,Salivary glands enlarged,Urine discoloration
Mechanism of Action
Nitazoxanide is an antiprotozoal agent. Both nitazoxanide and its active metabolite (tizoxanide) interfere with the pyruvate:ferredoxin 2-oxidoreductase (PFOR) enzyme-dependent electron transfer reaction which is essential to anaerobic metabolism in susceptible organisms.