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.