Properties

Damizol is a combination of diloxanide furoate and metronidazole, useful in the treatment of intestinal and extraintestinal amoebic infections.

Diloxanide furoate is a luminal amoebicide acting on the amoebic cyst and trophozite within the lumen of the bowel. Metronidazole is a tissue amoebicide, affecting the parasite in the intestinal wall or other organs. Through its binding to the DNA present inside the cell and preventing it from multiplication.

Indications

Damizol is indicated in the treatment of acute and chronic intestinal amoebiasis, including the amoebic cyst carriers hepatitis, amoebic liver abscess, and other systemic infections caused by E. histolytica and giardiasis.

Contraindications:

Hypersensitivity to the components of the formulation.

Side Effects

Occasional mild gastrointestinal disturbances:

• Abdominal pain, distention, nausea, burning sensation in the tongue, headache and dizziness.

Precautions:

• Anticoagulants: Metronidazole increases blood levels of warfarin and other oral coumarin anticoagulants, resulting in prolongation of prothrombin time.
• Drugs affecting liver enzyme activity: The simultaneous administration of drugs that induce microsomal liver enzymes, such as phenytoin or phenobarbital, may accelerate the elimination of metronidazole resulting in reduced plasma levels. The simultaneous administration of drugs that decrease microsomal liver enzyme activity, such as cimetidine, may prolong the half-life and decrease plasma clearance of metronidazole.
• Alcohol: Alcoholic beverages should not be consumed during metronidazole therapy and for at least one day afterwards because abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, headaches and flushing may occur.
• Pregnancy: The drug should be avoided during pregnancy, particularly during the first trimester.
• Nursing Mothers: Metronidazole is secreted in breast milk. The drug should be avoided by nursing mothers.
• In the elderly: In elderly patients, the pharmacokinetics of metronidazole may be altered and monitoring of serum levels may be necessary.
• In imparid hepatic function: Patients with severe hepatic disease metabolize metronidazole slowly, hence dosage adjustments in this category of patients may be required.
• This preparation may reduce the effectiveness of the combined oral contraceptives.

Other conditions:

• Blood disorders.
• Diseases of the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord).

Dosage

Damizol should be taken with food. When on Dailozole alcoholic beverages should be avoided. The patient should be advised to complete the course.

Adults:
Two tablets thrice daily for five days. Extended treatment for ten days in refractory cases.

Children (5 — 12 years):
Half tablet — one tablet thrice daily for five days.