Furazolidone (Furazolidone)
Overview of Furazolidone
Furazolidone is antibacterial agent, used in the treatment of bacterial diarrhea and gastro-enteritis. It may also be useful in treating traveler's diarrhea, typhoid fever, cholera and salmonella infections.
Indication of Furazolidone
Furazolidone is primarily indicated in conditions like Bacillary dysentery, Cholera, Diarrhoea caused by e-coli, Diarrhoea caused by salmonella species, Diarrhoea caused by shigella species, Giardiasis, Intestinal infection caused by giardia lambia, Travelers diarrhoea, Typhoid.
Contraindication of Furazolidone
Furazolidone is contraindicated in conditions like G6pd deficiency.
Side Effects of Furazolidone
The severe or irreversible adverse effects of Furazolidone, which give rise to further complications include Hepatotoxicity, Agranulocytosis, Hepatotoxicity, Hacmolytic Anemia, Acute pulmonary reactions.,The symptomatic adverse reactions produced by Furazolidone are more or less tolerable and if they become severe, they can be treated symptomatically, these include Dizziness, Headache, Drowsiness, Nausea, Vomiting, Fever, Skin rashes, Urticaria, Redness, Malaise, Hypotension, Arthralgia, Angioedema, Darkening of urine, Skin rashes, dizziness.
Precautions of Furazolidone
Furazolidone should be used with caution in patients with medical history, especially of blood disorders, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency or allergies, especially of drug allergies. Avoid intake of alcohol during therapy and for 4 days after taking this medication. The following are among the foods and beverages to be avoided while taking this medication and for 2 weeks after stop. These foods interact with monoamino oxidase (MAO) inhibitors causing severe headache and increased blood pressure and could lead to a medical emergency, so use with caution while taking meat, fish, pickled herring, liver, dry sausage, meats prepared with tenderizer, yogurt, sour cream, cheese, beverages, avoid excessive amounts of caffeine containing colas, coffee and tea, fruits or vegetables, bananas, figs, raisins, broad beans, yeast extract, soya sauce, large amounts of chocolate. This medication should be used only if clearly needed during pregnancy or lactation. Infants less than one month old should not receive this drug.The drug also inhibit some enzymes including monoamine oxidase. The urine of the patient on furazolidone may be coloured a dark yellow or brown ; this results from the presence of metabolites and is not harmful.