No

Antiprotozoal

Treatment of bacterial or protozoal diarrhea and enteritis caused by susceptible organisms Giardia lamblia and Vibrio cholerae

C

Known hypersensitivity to furazolidone; concurrent use of alcohol; patients <1 month of age because of the possibility of producing hemolytic anemia

Use caution in patients with G-6-PD deficiency when administering large doses for prolonged periods; furazolidone inhibits monoamine oxidase

>10%: Genitourinary: Discoloration of urine (dark yellow to brown)

1% to 10%:

Central nervous system: Headache

Gastrointestinal: Abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting

<1%: Orthostatic hypotension, fever, dizziness, drowsiness, malaise, rash, hypoglycemia, disulfiram-like reaction after alcohol ingestion, leukopenia, agranulocytosis, hemolysis in patients with G-6-PD deficiency, arthralgia

Symptoms of overdose include nausea, vomiting, serotonin crisis

Treatment is supportive care only; serotonin crisis may require dantrolene/bromocriptine

Increases toxicity of sympathomimetic amines, tricyclic antidepressants, MAO inhibitors, meperidine, anorexiants, dextromethorphan, fluoxetine, paroxetine, sertraline, trazodone

Increased effect/toxicity of levodopa

Disulfiram-like reaction with alcohol

Inhibits several vital enzymatic reactions causing antibacterial and antiprotozoal action

Absorption: Oral: Poor

Elimination: Oral: 1/3 of dose is excreted in urine as active drug and metabolites

Oral:

Adults: 100 mg 4 times/day for 7 days

Alcohol: Avoid use

Food: Marked elevation of blood pressure, hypertensive crisis, or hemorrhagic stroke may occur with foods high in amine content

CBC

False-positive results for urine glucose with Clinitest®

May cause drowsiness or dizziness

May rarely cause agranulocytosis; use caution with clozapine and carbamazepine; furazolidone inhibits MAO; caution with alcohol, anorexiants, antidepressants, meperidine, sympathomimetics, dopamine agonists, and tyramine-containing foods

No information available to require special precautions

No effects or complications reported

Take as directed. Avoid alcohol and tyramine-containing foods during and for 4 days following therapy. Do not take any other prescription or OTC medications without consulting prescriber. Your urine may turn dark brown or yellow (normal). If diabetic, use something other than Clinitest® for urine glucose testing. Report acute GI pain, unresolved diarrhea, unresolved nausea or vomiting, fever, dizziness, or unusual joint pain. Consult prescriber if condition is not resolved at the end of therapy. Pregnancy/breast-feeding precautions: Inform prescriber if you are or intend to be pregnant. Consult prescriber if breast-feeding.

Monitor CBC

Liquid: 50 mg/15 mL (60 mL, 473 mL)

Tablet: 100 mg

"Drugs for Parasitic Infections," Med Lett Drugs Ther, 1993, 35(911):111-22.

Murphy TV and Nelson JD, "Five vs Ten Days' Therapy With Furazolidone for Giardiasis," Am J Dis Child, 1983, 137(3):267-70.

Turner JA, "Giardiasis and Infections With Dientamoeba Fragilis," Pediatr Clin North Am, 1985, 32(4):865-80.