Furazolidone
About Furazolidone
Furazolidone is a medicine prescribed to treat infections in the gut, such as bacterial diarrhoea, cholera, and giardiasis. It works by targeting and destroying the harmful bacteria or protozoa causing the infection. Your doctor may prescribe either the tablet or capsule form depending on your specific infection.
It is highly important to take Furazolidone regularly and at evenly spaced intervals to maintain a constant level of the medicine in your body. You can take this medicine with or without food, though taking it with meals can help prevent stomach upset. Drinking plenty of fluids and resting will also support your recovery from intestinal infections.
While taking this medicine, you may notice mild side effects like nausea, headache, or a harmless change in urine colour to a dark yellow or brown. However, if you experience more serious symptoms, such as severe stomach pain, persistent vomiting, or signs of an allergic reaction like skin rash or breathing difficulties, you should contact your doctor immediately.
Talk to your doctor before starting Furazolidone if you have a history of certain genetic blood disorders, such as glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency, as this medicine can cause red blood cells to break down. Do not take this if you are treating an infant under one month of age, as it can cause serious blood complications in newborns.
This medicine can interact dangerously with alcohol, causing severe headaches, flushing, and a rapid heartbeat, so you must completely avoid alcohol during treatment and for four days after finishing it. You should also consult your doctor if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, breastfeeding, or managing health conditions as an elderly individual.
Uses of Furazolidone
Medicinal Benefits
Using Furazolidone as prescribed helps treat intestinal infections and supports a faster recovery. Here are the key benefits you can expect:
- Relieves diarrhoea symptoms: Helps reduce loose stools, abdominal cramps, and bloating, allowing the digestive system to recover.
- Helps prevent complications: By treating the infection, it helps reduce the risk of dehydration and prevents the infection from worsening or spreading.
- Supports recovery: Eliminates the bacteria or parasites causing the infection, helping restore normal bowel habits and improve overall well-being.
Directions for Use
- Furazolidone can be taken with food to avoid stomach upset.
- It is usually advised to be taken four times daily; however, follow your doctor’s advice regarding the dosage and duration.
- Swallow the medicine as a whole with a glass of water.
- Do not chew or crush it.
Storage
Side Effects of Furazolidone
Common Side Effects (Usually mild):
- Nausea or vomiting
- Headache
- Dizziness or lightheadedness
- Urine turning dark yellow or brown (this is completely harmless and will go away after treatment)
Serious Side Effects (Consult your doctor right away):
- Allergic reactions like skin rash, itching, hives, or swelling of the face, lips, or throat
- Difficulty breathing or wheezing
- Fever, joint pain, or severe muscle aches
- Extreme tiredness, pale skin, or dark urine (signs of red blood cell breakdown)
Drug Warnings
- Check before use: Inspect the tablets or capsules to ensure the packaging is intact and the medicine is not damaged before taking your dose.
- Check before taking other medicines: Do not take over-the-counter cough, cold, or allergy medicines without consulting your pharmacist, as they may interact with Furazolidone.
- Tell your doctor about G6PD deficiency: Inform your doctor if you have G6PD deficiency before taking Furazolidone, as it may cause a serious blood condition.
- Monitor your blood pressure: Check your blood pressure regularly if you have a history of high blood pressure.
- Do not share your medicine: Do not give Furazolidone to anyone else, even if they have symptoms similar to yours.
- Monitor your recovery: If your symptoms are not improving within a few days or become worse during treatment, contact your doctor promptly for reassessment.
Drug Interactions
- Sympathomimetic medicines (like decongestants, pseudoephedrine): May cause a dangerous and sudden increase in blood pressure.
- Antidepressants (MAOIs, tricyclics, or SSRIs): Taking these together can lead to severe high blood pressure or a serious condition called serotonin syndrome.
- Levodopa: May cause a sudden, severe spike in blood pressure.
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
cautionAvoid consumption of alcohol as it may worsen your condition.
Pregnancy
consult your doctorIf you are pregnant, consult your doctor before taking Furazolidone.
Breast Feeding
cautionIt is unknown whether Furazolidone is excreted in human milk. If you are breastfeeding, consult your doctor before using this medicine.
Driving
cautionFurazolidone generally does not alternate your alertness. However, do not drive or operate machinery if you experience symptoms affecting your ability to concentrate and react.
Liver
cautionLimited information is available about using Furazolidone in patients with liver disease. Inform your doctor before taking the Furazolidone if you have a pre-existing or a history of liver disease. Your doctor may adjust the dose or prescribe a suitable alternative based on your condition.
Kidney
cautionLimited information is available about using Furazolidone in patients with kidney disease. Inform your doctor before taking the Furazolidone if you have a pre-existing or a history of kidney disease. Your doctor may adjust the dose or prescribe a suitable alternative based on your condition.
Children
consult your doctorIt is not recommended for use in children below one month. For using Furazolidone in children above one month, consult a doctor. Your child's doctor will prescribe a suitable dose based on your child's condition.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, such as oral rehydration solution (ORS), water, and clear broths, to replace lost fluids and help prevent dehydration caused by diarrhoea.
- Avoid high-tyramine foods: Avoid foods such as aged cheeses, cured meats, red wine, soy sauce, and broad beans during treatment and for 2 weeks after stopping Furazolidone, as they may cause a dangerous rise in blood pressure.
- Avoid alcohol: Do not drink alcohol during treatment and for at least 4 days after your last dose, as it may cause a severe reaction with flushing, headache, and nausea.
- Eat a bland diet: Choose easily digestible foods such as bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast, and avoid greasy, spicy, or dairy-rich foods while recovering.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Bacterial infections: A bacterial infection is when harmful bacteria enter, multiply and infect the body. It can target any organ of the body and multiply very quickly. Many bacteria give off chemicals called toxins, which can damage tissue and make you sick. Bacterial infections vary from minor illnesses (like sore throat and ear infections) to severe brain infections (like meningitis and encephalitis). When infected with bacteria, you can experience generalized symptoms like fevers, chills and fatigue. A few harmful bacteria commonly cause infections include Streptococcus, Staphylococcus and E. coli. Anyone can get a bacterial infection, but people with a weak immune system or taking immunosuppressive medicines like steroids are more prone to infections.
Diarrhoea: It is a medical condition in which a person faces loose, watery stools or a frequent need to have a bowel movement.
Protozoal infections: Protozoal infections are any illness or condition caused by protozoa (tiny one-celled organisms which can cause infections).
Colitis: Colitis is an inflammation of the colon, the largest portion of your gut. The colon is the last stage of food's trip through your digestive system. Inflammation in your colon can disrupt this journey, producing pain, diarrhoea, and even blood in your stool (feces).
Bacteremic salmonellosis: Bacteremic salmonellosis (a bacterial infection of the intestine). Salmonella bacteria normally reside in the intestines of animals and humans and are excreted in the form of stool (faeces). Humans are most commonly infected by contaminated water or food.
Giardiasis: Giardiasis is an intestine infection caused by a giardia parasite, or Giardiasis is a diarrheal disease caused by the microscopic parasite Giardia duodenalis.
FAQs
Furazolidone is used to treat Bacterial and Protozoal infections.
Furazolidone contains Furazolidone. It works by killing bacteria and protozoa (tiny, one-celled organisms). Thus, it treats various bacterial and protozoal infections.
No, it is a prescribed drug a physician gives to prevent specific medical conditions. Taking it on your own can cause unwanted side effects.
Furazolidone is safe if used in the dose and duration recommended by your doctor. Take it precisely as directed, and do not skip any dose. Follow your doctor's guidelines carefully and inform your doctor if any side effects disturb you.
No, you must completely avoid alcohol while taking Furazolidone and for at least four days after your treatment ends. Combining this medicine with alcohol can cause a severe reaction, including a throbbing headache, fast heartbeat, facial flushing, and vomiting. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you have concerns about avoiding alcohol.
It is completely normal for Furazolidone to colour your urine dark yellow or amber-brown. This is a harmless side effect of the medicine passing through your body and will disappear once you finish your treatment. If you notice other symptoms like yellowing of the skin or eyes, talk to your doctor.
You must avoid foods high in tyramine, such as aged cheeses, sour cream, draft beer, red wine, yeast extracts, cured meats, and broad beans. Combining these foods with Furazolidone can cause a dangerous and sudden spike in blood pressure. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist for a complete list of foods to avoid.
You should only take Furazolidone during pregnancy or breastfeeding if your doctor determines that the benefits outweigh the risks. This medicine should never be given to infants under one month of age. Always talk to your doctor before starting this medicine if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
No, you should not take over-the-counter cold, cough, or allergy medicines containing decongestants (such as pseudoephedrine or phenylephrine) while taking Furazolidone. This combination can cause a dangerous increase in blood pressure. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking any other medicines.
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose, skip the missed dose and resume your regular schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one.
Furazolidone can be used in children, but it must never be given to infants under one month of age due to the risk of a serious blood condition. The dose for older children must be carefully calculated by a healthcare provider. Talk to your doctor to determine if this medicine is safe and appropriate for your child.
Many people begin to notice improvement within 2 to 3 days, although it is important to complete the full course of treatment. Contact your doctor if your diarrhoea does not improve after a few days, becomes worse, or if you develop persistent fever, severe abdominal pain, bloody stools, signs of dehydration, or repeated vomiting. These symptoms may indicate that the infection is not responding to treatment or that another condition requires medical attention.
