Nifurtimox
Administration
- Type: Antiparasitic
- Dosage Forms:
- Routes of Administration: PO
- Common Trade Names: Lampit
Adult Dosing
- 8-10 mg/kg/day PO divided q6-8hr for 90-120 days
Pediatric Dosing
- 1-10 years: 15-20 mg/kg/day PO divided q8hr
- 11-16 years: 12.5-15 mg/kg/day PO divided q8hr x90 days
Special Populations
Pregnancy Rating
- Unknown risk, no human data available
Lactation risk
- Unknown
Renal Dosing
- Contraindicated in renal impairment
Hepatic Dosing
- Contraindicated in hepatic impairment
Contraindications
- Allergy to class/drug
- Active or history of peripheral neuropathy
- Active or history of seizures or cerebral impairment, behavioral disorders, or psychoses
- Hepatic impairment
- Renal impairment
Adverse Reactions
Serious
- Seizures
- Pleural effusion
Common
- Anorexia (can be significant and limit completion of therapy)
- Ataxia, paresthesia, polyneuritis, tremor
- Depression, fatigue, sleep disorder, weakness
- Headache
- Memory impairment
- Rash, pruritic dermatitis
- Gastralgia, vomiting
- Myalgia
- Pulmonary infiltrates
Pharmacology
- Half-life: 2.95 +/- 1.19 hr
- Metabolism: Hepatic
- Excretion: Urinary
Mechanism of Action
- Inhibits trypanothione reductase, a parasite-specific antioxidant defense enzyme
Comments
- Investigational status in the US[1]