Generic Name

Secnidazole

Precaution

Avoid alcohol and disulfiram. Avoid in patients with history of blood disorders.

Indication

Giardiasis, Amoebiasis, Trichomoniasis

Contra Indication

Hypersensitivity; pregnancy (1st trimester) and lactation.

Dose

N/A

Side Effect

Nausea, gastralgia, change of taste, metallic taste, stomatitis, urticaria, rashes, leucopenia. Rarely vertigo, moderate neurological, digestive disturbances.

Pregnancy Category

Mode of Action

Secnidazole is active against E histolytica, G lamblia, T vaginalis, Clostridium spp, B fragilis, Gardnerella spp. The drug enters the microorganisms by diffusion and is reduced intracellularly by low oxidation-reduction potential ferredoxin which then result in DNA damage.

Interaction

Concurrent disulfiram admin may cause psychotic reactions. Disulfiram-like reactions with alcohol. Cimetidine may prolong half-life. Potentially Fatal: May potentiate anticoagulant effect of warfarin and increase risk of haemorrhage.

Pregnancy Category Note

Pregnancy Data with secnidazole use in pregnant women are insufficient to inform a drug-associated risk of adverse developmental outcomes In animal reproduction studies, there were no adverse developmental outcomes when secnidazole was administered orally to pregnant rats and rabbits during organogenesis at doses up to 4 times the clinical dose Lactation There is no information on the presence of secnidazole in human milk, the effects on the breastfed child, or the effects on milk production Other nitroimidazole derivatives are present in human milk Because of the potential for serious adverse reactions, including tumorigenicity, advise patients that breastfeeding is not recommended during treatment with secnidazole and for 96 hr after administration of secnidazole

Adult Dose

Oral Trichomoniasis; Amoebiasis; Giardiasis Adult: 2 g as a single dose. Severe invasive amoebiasis Adult: 1.5 g daily as single or in divided doses for 5 days.

Child Dose

Oral Trichomoniasis; Amoebiasis; Giardiasis Child: 30 mg/kg as a single dose. Severe invasive amoebiasis Child: 30 mg/kg daily for 5 days.

Renal Dose

N/A

Administration

N/A