MELARSOPROL

Antitrypanosomal medicine with activity against Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense and Trypanosoma brucei gambiense

Dosage Forms

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Injection

36 mg/ml

Uses

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  • Treatment of the meningoencephalitic stage of Trypanosomal infections (e.g. sleeping sickness)

Dose and Duration

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Treatment of the meningoencephalitic stage of Trypanosomal infections

Adult and child: by slow IV injection, increase dose gradually from 1.2 mg/kg up to a maximum of 3.6 mg/kg daily in courses of 3–4 days with intervals of 7–10 days between courses

Alternatively, 2.2 mg/kg daily for 10 days in T. gambiense infection

Contraindications

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  • Pregnancy
  • During influenza epidemics

Side Effects

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  • Fatal reactive encephalopathy (characterised by headache, tremor, slurred speech, convulsions and coma)
  • Myocardial damage, hypertension
  • Hypersensitivity reactions, urticaria
  • Agranulocytosis
  • Dose-related renal and hepatic impairment, albuminuria
  • Hyperthermia, headache
  • Diarrhoea, vomiting

Pregnancy

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  • Do not use

Breast-feeding

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  • Can be used

⚠️ Caution

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  • Melarsoprol injection is very irritant (avoid extravasation). Patients should remain lying face upward and fast (no food or drink) for at least 5 hours after injection
  • Hospitalisation and close medical supervision is required during the treatment period
  • Suspend drug during episodes of reactive encephalopathy
  • All intercurrent infections such as pneumonia and malaria should be treated before melarsoprol administration
  • Correct malnutrition with a protein-rich diet before treatment
  • Use with caution in leprosy and G6PD deficiency