Diloxanide Furoate

DILOXANIDE FUROATE

Diloxanide furoate is a dichloroacetamide derivative. It is an effec-tive luminal amebicide but is not active against tissue trophozo-ites. In the gut, diloxanide furoate is split into diloxanide and furoic acid; about 90% of the diloxanide is rapidly absorbed and then conjugated to form the glucuronide, which is promptly excreted in the urine. The unabsorbed diloxanide is the active antiamebic substance. The mechanism of action of diloxanide furoate is unknown.

Diloxanide furoate is considered by many the drug of choice for asymptomatic luminal infections. It is not available commercially in the USA, but can be obtained from some compounding phar-macies. It is used with a tissue amebicide, usually metronidazole, to treat serious intestinal and extraintestinal infections. Diloxanide furoate does not produce serious adverse effects. Flatulence is com-mon, but nausea and abdominal cramps are infrequent and rashes are rare. The drug is not recommended in pregnancy.