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Diloxanide Furoate
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Description
Diloxanide Furoate is a medicine that is used as a primary agent in the treatment of asymptomatic amoebiasis (worm infection). It works by killing the microorganism that causes infection.
Diloxanide Furoate has some side effects like headache, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, flatulence etc. These side effects are mild and may subside by themselves. Consult your doctor if any of these symptoms bother you or persist. Do not take this medicine if you are allergic to it.
Diloxanide Furoate can be taken with or without food. Take this medicine in the dose and duration prescribed by your doctor. Take it daily at the same time for the ease of remembering and for its better results. Complete the course of treatment even if you feel well after taking a few doses. Drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration.
Diloxanide Furoate is not recommended for use in children less than 25 kg body weight as the dose of this medicine is based on the body weight. This medicine alone is not effective for the treatment of invasive or extraintestinal amoebiasis (affecting the liver). Inform your doctor if you have liver or kidney problems, low blood count, and about your ongoing medications. Consult your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding before taking this medicine.
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Side effects
Major & minor side effects for Diloxanide Furoate
Severe skin rash and hives
Difficulty in breathing
Flatulence
Nausea or vomiting
Abdominal pain and cramps
Loss of appetite
Diarrhoea
Headache
Dry mouth
Stomach pain
Uses of Diloxanide Furoate
What is it prescribed for?
Amoebiasis
Amoebiasis is a parasitic infection of the intestines caused by the protozoan Entamoeba histolytica. The symptoms of amebiasis include loose stool, abdominal cramping, and stomach pain. However, most people with amebiasis would not experience significant symptoms. Diloxanide Furoate is used to treat this condition.
Concerns
Commonly asked questions
Onset of action
The peak effect of Diloxanide Furoate can be observed within 2 hours of intake.Duration of effect
The effect of Diloxanide Furoate lasts for an average duration of 6 hours.Safe with alcohol?
Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.Is it habit forming?
No habit-forming tendencies were reported for Diloxanide Furoate.Usage in pregnancy?
Diloxanide Furoate is not recommended for use in pregnancy as it may harm your foetus. If you are pregnant, consult your doctor before using this medicine.Usage while breast-feeding?
Diloxanide Furoate is not recommended for use during breastfeeding as may harm your infant. If you are breastfeeding, consult your doctor before using this medicine.
Allergy
Avoid taking Diloxanide Furoate if you are allergic to it. Seek immediate medical attention if you notice any symptoms such as skin rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, breathing difficulty, etc.
Warnings for special population
Pregnancy
Diloxanide Furoate is not recommended for use in pregnancy as it may harm your foetus. If you are pregnant, consult your doctor before using this medicine.
Breast-feeding
Diloxanide Furoate is not recommended for use during breastfeeding as may harm your infant. If you are breastfeeding, consult your doctor before using this medicine.
General warnings
Other medicines
Diloxanide Furoate may interact with many other medicines and may cause severe side effects. Hence, it is advised that you inform your doctor about all your current medicines including any herbs and supplements before beginning treatment with this medicine.
Use in children
Diloxanide Furoate is not recommended for use in children below 2 years of age who weigh less than 25 kg as the safety and efficacy data are not available.
Use in elderly
Diloxanide Furoate should be used with caution in elderly people as the risk of side effects is significantly high.
Dose regimen
Treatment course with Diloxanide Furoate is considered successful if stools remain free from worms (Entamoeba histolytica) for one month. Your doctor may examine several specimens while evaluating the response to the treatment.
Completion of dose course
It is recommended to take Diloxanide Furoate for the entire prescribed duration even if you feel better after taking a few doses as abrupt stopping may drug resistance (a condition where microbes evolve mechanisms that protect them from the effects of antibiotics). It makes the treatment of subsequent infections very difficult.
Missed Dose
Take the missed dose of Diloxanide Furoate as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose. Do not double your dose to make up for the missed one.
Overdose
Never take more than the prescribed dose. Seek emergency medical treatment in case of an overdose with Diloxanide Furoate.
All drugs interact differently for person to person. You should check all the possible interactions with your doctor before starting any medicine.
Interaction with Alcohol
Description
Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
Instructions
Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
Interaction with Medicine
Disease interactions
Disease
Information not available.
Food interactions
Information not available.
Lab interactions
Information not available.
Take Diloxanide Furoate with or without food or as prescribed by your doctor. Do not take more or fewer doses than prescribed.
Consult your doctor if you experience any undesirable effects. Do not stop taking this medicine without consulting your doctor.
Drink an adequate amount of water in order to reduce the risk of kidney injury. Wash your hands after using the toilet to avoid the spread of this condition and maintain hygiene.
Keep the medicine away from the reach of children and pets. Ensure that unused medicine is disposed of properly.
Miscelleneous
How it works
Diloxanide Furoate works by interfering with certain vital functions in the protozoal cell, causing the death of the organism which eventually form cysts. These cysts are excreted through stools.
Legal Status
Classification
Category
Systemic anti-protozoals
Schedule
Schedule H
Vardgivarwebb.regionostergotland.se. 2021. [online] Available at: < [Accessed 11 October 2021].
E-lactancia.org. 2021. [online] Available at: < [Accessed 11 October 2021].
Allen, H., 2021. Diloxanide. Diloxanide tablets and side effects at Patient. [online] Patient.info. Available at: <o/medicine/diloxanide-tablets> [Accessed 11 October 2021].
Information on this page was last updated on 9 Nov 2021
Disclaimer
We’ve made all possible efforts to ensure that the information provided here is accurate, up-to-date and complete, however, it should not be treated as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Practo only provides reference source for common information on medicines and does not guarantee its accuracy or exhaustiveness. The absence of a warning for any drug or combination thereof, should not be assumed to indicate that the drug or combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for any given patient. Practo does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information provided above. If you have any doubts about your medication then we strongly recommend that you consult with your doctor, nurse or healthcare provider. See detailed T&C here.