NIFURTIMOX

Antitrypanosomal medicine efficacious during the early stages of Trypanosoma cruzi

Dosage Forms

Tablet

30 mg
120 mg
250 mg

Uses

  • Sleeping sickness
  • Chagas disease (acute American trypanosomiasis)

Dose and Duration

All uses (with aluminium hydroxide)

Adult: 2.67––3.33 mg/kg every 8 hours for 90 days

Child: 3.75–5 mg/kg every 6 hours for 90 days

Contraindications

  • Early pregnancy

Side Effects

  • Anorexia, weight loss
  • Nausea, vomiting, gastric pain
  • Insomnia, headache, vertigo, excitability
  • Muscle pain, joint pain

Patient Instructions

  • Avoid taking alcohol during treatment in order to reduce incidence and severity of side effects

Pregnancy

  • Do not use in 1ˢᵗ trimester

Breast-feeding

  • Can be used

⚠️ Caution

  • Aluminium hydroxide reduces gastrointestinal irritation
  • Use with caution in patients with history of convulsions or psychiatric disease