EFLORNITHINE injectable

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