On this page
Therapeutic action
- Phenicol antibacterial
Indications
- First-line treatment of plague meningitis
- Alternative to first-line treatments of septicaemic plague
- Severe typhoid fever if the strain is susceptible (recent drug susceptibility test)
Forms and strengths, route of administration
- 1 g powder for injection, to be dissolved in 10 ml of water for injection, for IV injection over 1 to 2 minutes
Dosage
- Child from 1 year to < 13 years: 25 mg/kg every 8 hours
- Child ≥ 13 years and adult: 1 g every 8 hours
Age |
Weight |
1 g vial |
---|---|---|
1 to < 2 years |
10 to < 13 kg |
3 ml x 3 |
2 to < 3 years |
13 to < 15 kg |
3.5 ml x 3 |
3 to < 6 years |
15 to < 20 kg |
5 ml x 3 |
6 to < 8 years |
20 to < 25 kg |
6 ml x 3 |
8 to < 9 years |
25 to < 30 kg |
7 ml x 3 |
9 to < 11 years |
30 to < 35 kg |
8 ml x 3 |
11 to < 13 years |
35 to < 45 kg |
9 ml x 3 |
≥ 13 years and adult |
≥ 45 kg |
10 ml x 3 |
Duration
- Plague: 10 days
- Typhoid fever: 14 days
Change to oral route as soon as possible.
Contra-indications, adverse effects, precautions
- Do not administer to children under 1 year.
- Do not administer to patients with:
- history of allergic reaction or bone marrow depression during a previous treatment with chloramphenicol;
- G6PD deficiency.
- May cause:
- dose-related haematological toxicity (bone marrow depression, anaemia, leucopenia, thrombocytopenia), allergic reactions. In these events, stop treatment immediately;
- gastrointestinal disturbances, peripheral and optic neuropathies.
- Reduce dosage in patients with hepatic or renal impairment.
- Avoid or monitor combination with potentially haematotoxic drugs (carbamazepine, co-trimoxazole, flucytocine, pyrimethamine, zidovudine, etc.).
- Pregnancy: CONTRA-INDICATED, except if vital, if there is no therapeutic alternative. If used during the 3rd trimester, risk of grey syndrome in the neonate (vomiting, hypothermia, blue-grey skin colour and cardiovascular depression).
- Breast-feeding: CONTRA-INDICATED
Remarks
- Oral treatment is more effective than parenteral treatment: blood and tissue concentrations are higher when chloramphenicol is given orally.
Storage
– Below 25 °C