Monograph: |
Nitrofurazone
A lemon to brownish-yellow odourless, crystalline powder. It
slowly darkens on exposure to light and discolours on contact
with alkalis.
Soluble I in 4200 of water. I in 590 of alcohol, and I in 350
of propylene glycol: soluble in dimethylformamide: practi-
cally insoluble in chloroform and ether. The filtrate from a I %
suspension in water has a pH of 5.0 to 7.5. Store at a temper-
ature not exceeding 40Β° in airtight containers. Protect from
light.
Autoclaving gauze dressings impregnated with nitrofurazone
as recommended by the US manufacturer of the preparation.
resulted in a greater than 10% loss of the drug. Since the
spectroscopic assay used may not distinguish between nitro-
furazone and some of its degradation products, it is possible
that the degree of degradation was greater than this.
Adverse Effects
Sensitisation and generalised allergic skin reactions may be
produced by the topical application of nitrofurazone.
Nitrofurazone is a toxic drug when given by mouth and seri-
ous adverse effects include severe peripheral neuropathy:
haemolysis may occur in patients with a deficiency of glu-
cose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase. Nitrofurazone in high oral
doses is carcinogenic in mice.
Precautions
Topical preparations of nitrofurazone are contra-indicated in
patients with known hypersensitivity. Those preparations
containing macrogols should be used with caution in patients
with renal dysfunction since macrogols can be absorbed and
their accumulation in such patients may result in symptoms of
progressive renal impairment.
Because of the risk of haemolysis nitrofurazone by mouth
should be used with caution in patients with glucose-6-phos-
phate dehydrogenase deficiency.
Antimicrobial Action
Nitrofurazone is a nitrofuran derivative with a broad spectrum
of antibacterial activity, but with little activity against Pseu-
domonas spp. It also has antitrypanosomal activity.
Uses and Administration
Nitrofurazone is a nitrofuran derivative which is used as a lo-
cal application for wounds, burns, ulcers, and skin infections.
and for the preparation of surfaces before skin grafting. It is
usually applied in a concentration of 0.2% in a water-soluble
or water-miscible basis. A solution of nitrofurazone was for-
merly used for bladder irrigation.
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