EFLORNITHINE injectable

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    Prescription under medical supervision

     

    Therapeutic action

    • Trypanocide

    Indications

    • Meningoencephalitic stage of African trypanosomiasis due to T.b. gambiense, in combination with nifurtimox (first choice treatment) or in monotherapy if nifurtimox is not available or is contra-indicated

    Forms and strengths, route of administration

    • 10 g in 50 ml ampoule (200 mg/ml) to be diluted in 250 ml bag of water for injection (or, if not available, 0.9% sodium chloride), for IV infusion administered over 2 hours

    Dosage and duration

    In combination with nifurtimox

    • Child and adult: 200 mg/kg every 12 hours for 7 days

     

    In monotherapy

    • Child under 12 years: 150 mg/kg every 6 hours for 14 days
    • Child 12 years and over and adult: 100 mg/kg every 6 hours for 14 days

    Contra-indications, adverse effects, precautions

    • May cause: haematological disorders (anaemia, leucopenia, thrombocytopenia), gastrointestinal disturbances (diarrhoea, abdominal pain, vomiting), seizures, tremor, fever, deep tissue infection, headache, alopecia, dizziness.
    • The catheter must be handled with great attention to avoid local or general bacterial superinfections: thoroughly disinfect the insertion site, protect the site with a sterile dressing, ensure secure catheter fixation and change the catheter every 48 hours or earlier in the event of phlebitis.
    • Pregnancy: CONTRA-INDICATED unless, due to the mother’s general condition, treatment cannot be delayed until after delivery.

    Remarks

    • When administering nifurtimox-eflornithine combined therapy, the dosage of nifurtimox in children and adults is 5 mg/kg every 8 hours for 10 days.
    • Eflornithine is also called difluoromethylornithine or DFMO.

    Storage

     
    – Below 25 °C 
    Diluted solution must be kept refrigerated (2 °C to 8 °C) and used within 24 hours.