Zoana

ANTIPROTOZOALS: Nitazoxanide

Indication

A) Diarrhoea caused by the protozoa Giardia lamblia and Cryptosporidium 

     parvum.

B) Amoebiasis and helminth infections.

Contraindication

Nitazoxanide should not be given to patients who have an allergic reaction to the drug. The safety and effectiveness of Nitazoxanide suspension in pediatric patients less than 1 year of age have not been studied. Therefore, it should not be taken by children less than 12 months old. 

Dosage & Administration

Children (Ages 1 to 3 years) : 5 ml (100 mg) every 12 hours for 3 days. 

Children (Ages 4 to 11 years) : 10 ml (200 mg) every 12 hours for 3 days.

Adults and adolescents (Ages 12 years or older) : 25 ml (500 mg) every 12 hours for 3 days. 

It is important to take Nitazoxanide with food.  It is also very important to shake the oral suspension well before measuring each dose.

Side Effect

Side effects associated with the use of Nitazoxanide may include headache, vomiting, flatulence, rhinitis, discolored urine etc. A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is unlikely. Symptoms of allergic reaction may include: rash, itching, swelling, dizziness, trouble breathing etc.

Precaution

The pharmacokinetics of Nitazoxanide in patients with impaired renal or hepatic function have not been studied. Therefore, Nitazoxanide must be administered with caution to patients with hepatic and biliary disease, to patients with renal disease and to patients with combined renal and hepatic disease.

Pregnancy category B. There are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women. It is not known whether Nitazoxanide is excreted in human milk. Because many drugs are excreted in human milk, caution should be exercised when Nitazoxanide is administered to a nursing woman.

Drug Interaction

Tizoxanide is highly bound to plasma protein. Therefore, caution should be used when administering Nitazoxanide concurrently with other highly plasma protein-bound drugs (e.g., warfarin). In vitro metabolism studies have demonstrated that tizoxanide has no significant inhibitory effect on cytochrome P-450 enzymes. Although no drug-drug interaction studies have been conducted in vivo, it is expected that no significant interaction would occur when Nitazoxanide is co-administered with drugs that either are metabolized by or inhibit cytochrome P-450 enzymes.

Presentation

Zoana Tablet: Box containing 3×4\’s tablets in Alu-Alu Blister pack.

Zoana 32 ml Powder for Suspension: Bottle containing dry powder to reconstitute 32 ml suspension.

Zoana 62 ml Powder for Suspension: Bottle containing dry powder to reconstitute 62 ml suspension.