CHLORAMPHENICOL oral

Select language:
Enter
Download
Comment
Return to top
On this page

     

    Prescription under medical supervision

     

     
    The use of chloramphenicol should be restricted to severe infections when other less toxic antibacterials are not effective or contra-indicated.

     

     

     

    Therapeutic action

    • Phenicol antibacterial

    Indications

    • Alternative to first-line treatments of bubonic plague
    • Typhoid fever if the strain is susceptible (recent drug susceptibility test)
    • Completion treatment following parenteral therapy with chloramphenicol

    Forms and strengths

    • 250 mg capsule

    Dosage

    • Child from 1 year to less than 13 years: 12.5 mg/kg 3 to 4 times daily; the dose should be doubled in severe infection (max. 3 g daily)
    • Child ≥ 13 years and adult: 1 g 3 to 4 times daily

     

    Age

    Weight

    250 mg capsule

    1 to < 4 years

    10 to < 17 kg

    1 cap x 3

    4 to < 9 years

    17 to < 30 kg

    2 cap x 3

    9 to < 13 years

    30 to < 45 kg

    3 cap x 3

    ≥ 13 years and adult

    ≥ 45 kg

    4 cap x 3

     

    Duration

    • Plague: 10 days
    • Typhoid fever: 7 days

    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 newborn infant (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.
    • Capsules can be opened and their content mixed into a spoon with food.
    • Also comes in 150 mg/5 ml powder for oral suspension.
       

    Storage

     
    – Below 25 °C
    Path