Furoxone

Furoxone is used for the treatment of bacterial and protozoal infections. It can kill both bacteria and protozoa.

Protozoa are the parasites that can cause various kinds of infections in the human body.

Furazolidone is taken orally. It can be used to treat cholera, colitis, and diarrhea that is caused by bacteria and giardia or amoeba.

If taken with certain foods or drinks or other drugs, furazolidone can cause serious adverse effects. Ask your doctor about these kinds of foods. Furazolidone is available only with your doctor's prescription.

This product is available in the following two dosage forms:

• Suspension
• Tablet

Before using Furoxone, you must know all about the risks and complications associated with it.

Every medicine has potential side effects. So, the benefits of a drug should always be weighed against its associated risks.

Your doctor will consider these risks before prescribing the drug and will inform you about them.

Following factors should be considered before taking this drug:

• Allergies: If you have had an allergic reaction to this drug in the past, inform your doctor. You should also tell your healthcare provider if you are allergic to any other drugs or food products.
• Age-specific problems: The use of furazolidone in infants up to 1 year of age is not recommended because it can cause anemia in this age group. However, no significant data is available specific to the geriatric age group.
• Pregnancy: Regarding its safety of use in pregnant women, it is ranked under “C” category, which means that either it causes adverse effects to the fetus or there are no studies done in this aspect.
• Drug Interactions: Certain drugs should not be used together because they can interact inside the body which can have a harmful effect. On the other hand, certain drugs are allowed to be used together. So, you should tell your doctor about any other medications you are taking.

If there is a chance of interaction between those two drugs, the doctor may change the dose or may prescribe an alternative drug.

Use of furazolidone with following drugs is not recommended:

• Apraclonidine
• Amitriptyline
• Atomoxetine
• Benzphetamine
• Carbidopa
• Brimonidine
• Bupropion
• Carbamazepine
• Carbinoxamine
• Citalopram
• Cyproheptadine
• Clomipramine
• Clovoxamine
• Cyclobenzaprine
• Dextroamphetamine
• Desipramine
• Desvenlafaxine
• Dexmethylphenidate
• Diethylpropion
• Doxylamine
• Femoxetine
• Entacapone
• Escitalopram
• Fluoxetine
• Fluvoxamine
• Hydroxytryptophan
• Guanadrel
• Guanethidine
• Imipramine
• Lisdexamfetamine
• Isocarboxazid
• Levodopa
• Levomethadyl
• Levomilnacipran
• Maprotiline
• Methamphetamine
• Mazindol
• Methadone
• Methyldopa
• Methylphenidate
• Milnacipran
• Mirtazapine
• Nefazodone
• Paroxetine
• Nefopam
• Nortriptyline
• Opipramol
• Phendimetrazine
• Phenmetrazine
• Reserpine
• Phentermine
• Phenylalanine
• Pseudoephedrine
• Safinamide
• Sibutramine
• Selegiline
• Sertraline
• Sumatriptan
• Tetrabenazine
• Tapentadol
• Tranylcypromine
• Trazodone
• Tryptophan
• Trimipramine
• Vortioxetine
• Venlafaxine
• Zimeldine
• Vilazodone

Furthermore, certain medications should not be taken with alcohol or tobacco, which may also result in harmful interactions. Ask your doctor about the concurrent use of this drug along with alcohol or tobacco.

You should also inform your doctor about any other medical condition you may be suffering from, especially G6PD deficiency. It may cause anemia in patients with this disease

To use Furoxone correctly, you must follow all instructions given by your doctor.

This drug should not be given to infants up to 1 month of age unless your doctor has recommended. Furazolidone may cause anemia in this age group.

Furazolidone may be taken with food to decrease the chances of stomach upset.

To use the oral suspension:

Use a specially marked measuring spoon or another device to measure each dose accurately. The typical household spoon may measure the dose inaccurately.

To avoid adverse effects, this drug should be used exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not overuse or misuse this drug and do not use it longer than the recommended time.

Read all the instructions mentioned in the medication guide. This medicine should be taken with food in order to enhance its absorption in the gut.

Do not miss any dose. The dose of this drug varies according to the condition of each person.

The number of doses per day, the time interval between the doses and the length of time you have to take the medicine depends on your condition individually and all these factors should only be determined by your healthcare provider.

Follow each and every instruction of your doctor and also, read the label carefully.

In case you miss one dose of this drug, take it as soon as you can. If it is almost time for your subsequent dose, you can then skip the missed dose and continue with your regular dosing schedule. Do not take two doses at once.

Storage: This medicine should be stored at room temperature within a closed container, away from heat, direct light, and moisture. Keep this drug out of the reach of children.

Do not store expired or outdated medicines or the medicine no longer needed.

Before using Furoxone, there are some precautions you must take.

Drinking alcohol along with this drug may cause adverse effects in some patients. So, it is generally not advised to drink alcohol concurrently.

Do not consume tyramine-containing food along with this drug. Tyramine is present in foods that are aged or fermented, such as cheese, yeast or meat extract, beans, smoked meat, and fish.

You should also avoid caffeine-containing foods while taking furazolidine.

Regular follow-up is necessary during and after the treatment. It is important to allow your doctor to monitor your progress and to make sure that there aren’t any side effects from the medication.

Contact your doctor if your symptoms have not improved even after taking the full course of treatment. The doctor may order some blood tests in order to determine the blood levels of the drug.

Avoid taking any other medicine unless thoroughly discussed with your doctor. Always ask your doctor before using any prescription, non-prescription or herbal medicine.

As with many medications, there are several potential side effects associated with Furoxone. Although these side effects may occur only in a handful of patients but if they do occur, contact your physician immediately.

This medication can turn your urine to dark yellow or brown color. This is a common and harmless side effect and does not need any medical attention.

Seek medical help instantly, if you experience any symptoms while on this medication. Also, contact your healthcare professional immediately, if have overdosed on this drug.