Benznidazole

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Administration

  • Type: Antiparasitic
  • Dosage Forms:
  • Routes of Administration: PO
  • Common Trade Names:

Adult Dosing

  • Chronic chagas in patients up to age 50 without cardiomyopathy: 5-7 mg/kg/day PO divided in 2 doses separated by ~12 hr x 60 days

Pediatric Dosing

  • <2 years: Safety/efficacy not established
  • 2-12 years: 5-7.5 mg/kg/day PO divided in 2 doses separated by ~12 hr x 60 days
  • >12y: 5-7 mg/kg/day PO divided in 2 doses separated by ~12 hr x 60 days

Special Populations

Pregnancy Rating

  • Fetal harm demonstrated in animal studies[1]

Lactation risk

  • Breastfeeding while being treated with benznidazole not recommended[2]

Renal Dosing

  • Not established

Hepatic Dosing

  • Not established

Contraindications

  • Allergy to class/drug
  • Disulfiram administered within last 2 weeks; psychotic reactions may occur
  • Concomitant consumption of ETOH or propylene glycol containing products; disulfiram-like reaction may occur

Adverse Reactions

Serious

  • Acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis
  • TEN, erythema multiforme, DRESS
  • Paresthesias/peripheral neuropathy that can last for several months
  • Bone marrow depression (e.g. cytopenias)

Common

  • Headache, dizziness
  • Paresthesias, peripheral neuropathy, tremor
  • Skin reactions; rash
  • Abdominal pain, nausea/vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss, abnormal LFTs

Pharmacology

  • Half-life: 13h
  • Metabolism: unknown
  • Excretion: urine and feces

Mechanism of Action

  • Inhibits DNA, RNA, and protein synthesis within the T cruzi parasite

Comments

See Also

References

Authors: