Monograph: |
Diloxanide Furoate
A white or almost white, odourless or almost odourless, crys-
talline powder. Very slightly soluble in water; slightly
soluble
in alcohol and in ether; freely soluble in chloroform. Protect
from light.
Adverse Effects
Flatulence is the most common adverse effect dur-
ing treatment with diloxanide furoate. Vomiting,
pruritus. and urticaria may occasionally occur.
Pharmacokinetics
Diloxanide furoate is hydrolysed before absorption
from the gastro-intestinal tract. The resulting diloxa-
nide is readily absorbed and excreted mainly in the
urine as the glucuronide; less than 10% of a dose
appears in the faeces.
Uses and Administration
Diloxanide furoate, a dichloroacetamide derivative,
is a luminal amoebicide acting principally in the
bowel lumen and is used in the treatment of intesti-
nal amoebiasis . It is given alone in the treat-
ment of asymptomatic cyst-passers and in
conjunction with an amoebicide that acts in the tis-
sues, such as metronidazole, in patients with inva-
sive amoebiasis.
Diloxanide furoate is administered by mouth in a
dosage of 500 mg three times daily for 10 days; chil-
dren weighing more than 25 kg may be given 20 mg
per kg body-weight daily, in divided doses, for 10
days. The course of treatment may be repeated if
necessary.
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