Therapeutic Action
Trypanocide (arsenical derivative)
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Drug reference
Trypanocide (arsenical derivative)
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Meningoencephalitic stage of African trypanosomiasis due to T. b. gambiense and T. b. rhodesiense
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May cause: reactive encephalopathy (5-10% of cases): repeated or prolonged seizures, coma, mental th th disorders, usually between the 5 and the 8 day of treatment (but sometimes later, even after the patient has been discharged); arsenical reactions: headache, fever, tachycardia, hypertension, jaw pain, neurological disorders (hyperreflexia); gastrointestinal disturbances, skin reactions (exfoliative dermatitis, urticaria), peripheral neuropathy, haematological disorders (haemolytic anaemia in patients with G6PD deficiency, agranulocytosis), hepatic or renal impairment, myocardial damage; swelling, pain, phlebitis, venous sclerosis, necrosis at injection site in the event of extravasation during IV administration. As propylene glycol can dissolve plastic, syringes should be prepared just before injections. Pregnancy: CONTRA-INDICATED
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180 mg in 5 ml ampoule (36 mg/ml), 3.6 % solution in propylene glycol, for slow IV injection DO NOT ADMINISTER BY IM or SC INJECTION.
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Child and adult: 2.2 mg/kg (max. 5 ml) once daily for 10 days
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Oral prednisolone is frequently associated during the course of treatment. For the meningoencephalitic stage of gambiense trypanosomiasis, the treatment of choice is nifurtimox + eflornithine (NECT).
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– Below 25 °C
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2.2 mg/kg (max. 5 ml) once daily for 10 days
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