Drugs List

Therapeutic Indications

Uses

Amoebiasis - acute intestinal: adjunctive treatment
Amoebiasis - intestinal chronic : treatment

Contraindications

Breastfeeding
Pregnancy

Precautions and Warnings

Children weighing less than 25kg

Pregnancy and Lactation

Pregnancy

Diloxanide furoate is contraindicated in pregnancy.

The manufacturer suggests as the safety of diloxanide furoate has not been established, use in pregnancy is contraindicated.

The use of all medication in pregnancy should be avoided whenever possible; particularly in the first trimester. Non-drug treatments should also be considered. When essential, a medication with the best safety record over time should be chosen, employing the lowest effective dose for the shortest possible time. Polypharmacy should be avoided. Teratogens taken in the pre-embryonic period, often quoted as lasting until 14 to 17 days post-conception, are believed to have an all-or-nothing effect. Where drugs have a short half-life, and when the date of conception is certain, this may allow women to be reassured where drug exposure has occurred within this time frame. Further advice may be available from the UK National Teratology Information Service (NTIS) and through ToxBase, available via password on the internet ( www.toxbase.org ) or if this is unavailable at the backup site ( www.toxbasebackup.org ).

Lactation

Diloxanide furoate is contraindicated in breastfeeding.

The manufacturer suggests as the safety of diloxanide furoate has not been established, use in breastfeeding is contraindicated.

Neonates, infants born prematurely, those with low birth weight, those with an unstable gastrointestinal function or who have serious illnesses may require special consideration. For any infant, if a drug is prescribed to the nursing mother, it should be at the lowest practical dose and for the shortest time. When drug administration is unavoidable and breastfeeding is to continue, minimisation of exposure of the infant to the drug may sometimes be achieved by timing the maternal doses to just after a feeding episode. Infants exposed to drugs via breast milk should be monitored for unusual signs or symptoms. Interactions between the drug received by the infant from the mother's milk and medication prescribed for the infant should also be considered, for example, when the drug given to the infant may prevent metabolism of the drug received via breast milk.
Specialist advice is available from the UK Drugs in Lactation Advisory Service at https://www.midlandsmedicines.nhs.uk/content.asp?section=6&subsection=17&pageIdx=1

Side Effects

Abdominal cramps
Anorexia
Diarrhoea
Dizziness
Flatulence
Headache
Nausea
Pruritus
Urticaria
Vomiting

Presentation

Oral formulations of diloxanide furoate

Drugs List

Therapeutic Indications

Uses

Amoebiasis - acute intestinal: adjunctive treatment
Amoebiasis - intestinal chronic : treatment

Dosage

Diloxanide can usually be given alone for chronic intestinal amoebiasis, but should be used as an adjunct to metronidazole or tinidazole acute intestinal amoebiasis.

Adults

Children

Contraindications

Breastfeeding
Pregnancy

Precautions and Warnings

Children weighing less than 25kg

Pregnancy and Lactation

Pregnancy

Diloxanide furoate is contraindicated in pregnancy.

The manufacturer suggests as the safety of diloxanide furoate has not been established, use in pregnancy is contraindicated.

The use of all medication in pregnancy should be avoided whenever possible; particularly in the first trimester. Non-drug treatments should also be considered. When essential, a medication with the best safety record over time should be chosen, employing the lowest effective dose for the shortest possible time. Polypharmacy should be avoided. Teratogens taken in the pre-embryonic period, often quoted as lasting until 14 to 17 days post-conception, are believed to have an all-or-nothing effect. Where drugs have a short half-life, and when the date of conception is certain, this may allow women to be reassured where drug exposure has occurred within this time frame. Further advice may be available from the UK National Teratology Information Service (NTIS) and through ToxBase, available via password on the internet ( www.toxbase.org ) or if this is unavailable at the backup site ( www.toxbasebackup.org ).

Lactation

Diloxanide furoate is contraindicated in breastfeeding.

The manufacturer suggests as the safety of diloxanide furoate has not been established, use in breastfeeding is contraindicated.

Neonates, infants born prematurely, those with low birth weight, those with an unstable gastrointestinal function or who have serious illnesses may require special consideration. For any infant, if a drug is prescribed to the nursing mother, it should be at the lowest practical dose and for the shortest time. When drug administration is unavoidable and breastfeeding is to continue, minimisation of exposure of the infant to the drug may sometimes be achieved by timing the maternal doses to just after a feeding episode. Infants exposed to drugs via breast milk should be monitored for unusual signs or symptoms. Interactions between the drug received by the infant from the mother's milk and medication prescribed for the infant should also be considered, for example, when the drug given to the infant may prevent metabolism of the drug received via breast milk.
Specialist advice is available from the UK Drugs in Lactation Advisory Service at https://www.midlandsmedicines.nhs.uk/content.asp?section=6&subsection=17&pageIdx=1

Counselling

Advise patient if a dose is missed to take the next dose at the usual time. Avoid double dosing.

Side Effects

Abdominal cramps
Anorexia
Diarrhoea
Dizziness
Flatulence
Headache
Nausea
Pruritus
Urticaria
Vomiting

Overdosage

It is strongly recommended that the UK National Poisons Information Service be consulted on cases of suspected or actual overdose where there is doubt over the degree of risk or about appropriate management.

The following number will direct the caller to the relevant local centre (0844) 892 0111

Information may be obtained if you have access to ToxBase the primary clinical toxicology database of the National Poisons Information Service. This is available via password on the internet ( www.toxbase.org ) or if this is unavailable at the backup site ( www.toxbasebackup.org ).

Further Information

Last Full Review Date: November 2016

Reference Sources

Summary of Product Characteristics: Diloxanide 500 mg tablets. Concordia International. Revised March 2015.

NICE Evidence Services Available at: www.nice.org.uk Last accessed: 22 August 2017