Diloxanide Furoate

How does it work?

Diloxanide furoate belongs to a group of medications called amoebicides. It is used to kill an amoeba which belongs to a group of organisms known as protozoa. The amoeba Entamoeba histolytica is a protozoal parasite and lives in the gut. It can sometines cause infection outside of the gut in other organs of the body. It is caught by eating food or drinking water contaminated by faeces from someone carrying the disease. The mechanism of how diloxanide furoate treats these infections is not known, but it kills the amoebas in the bowel (intestinal) lumen but it is not effective against the organisms in the tissues or other organs in the body. It is given alone for chronic (long term) infections or after a course of metronidazole or tinidazole for acute amoebic infections.

What is it used for?

Long-term gut infection causing diarrhoea (chronic amoebic dysentry)

Sudden severe diarrhoea due to infection caused by the amoeba Entamoeba histolytica (acute amoebic dysentry)

Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

Certain medicines should not be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding. However, other medicines may be safely used in pregnancy or breastfeeding providing the benefits to the mother outweigh the risks to the unborn baby. Always inform your doctor if you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, before using any medicine.

The manufacturer states not to use this medicine during pregnancy and breastfeeding as there is insufficient safety information available. Seek medical advice from your doctor.

Label warnings

Take at regular intervals. Complete the prescribed course unless otherwise directed.

Side effects

Medicines and their possible side effects can affect individual people in different ways. The following are some of the side effects that are known to be associated with this medicine. Because a side effect is stated here, it does not mean that all people using this medicine will experience that or any side effect.

Itchy rash (urticaria)

Itching (pruritus)

Excess gas in the stomach and intestines (flatulence)

Vomiting

The side effects listed above may not include all of the side effects reported by the drug's manufacturer. For more information about any other possible risks associated with this medicine, please read the information provided with the medicine or consult your doctor or pharmacist.

How can this medicine affect other medicines?

There are no known significant interactions.

Other medicines containing the same active ingredients

Furamide ( discontinued )

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