The main dosage form of the drug chloramphenicol is coated tablets or capsules.
Structure
Active substance:
- chloramphenicol - 250/500 mg (1 tablet)
Excipients:
- calcium stearate;
- potato starch.
Pharmacological action of the drug chloramphenicol
Levomycetin tablets are a broad-spectrum antibiotic that is effective against a variety of both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. In addition, this drug can act on strains that are resistant to the following antibiotics - penicillin, sulfanilamides, streptomycin.
The drug acts on the microorganism, disrupting its protein synthesis, thus, in therapeutic doses, this drug can have a bacteriostatic effect.
Resistance to this drug in microorganisms develops slowly, and at the same time does not give cross-resistance to other antibiotics with a similar structure.
Indications for use of the drug chloramphenicol
The tablets of the drug are used for a number of diseases that can be caused by an infection of a bacterial nature:
- paratyphoid;
- typhoid fever;
- salmonellosis;
- shigellosis;
- brucellosis;
- rickettsiosis;
- tularemia.
Side effects of the drug chloramphenicol
With drug poisoning or simply with individual intolerance, a number of side effects can occur that relate to various body systems.
Side effects related to hematopoiesis:
- thrombocytopenia;
- leukopenia;
- reticulocytopenia;
- decrease in hemoglobin in the blood;
- aplastic anemia.
Side effects related to the gastrointestinal tract and mucous membranes:
- vomiting
- nausea;
- bloating;
- diarrhea;
- mucosal irritation;
- stomatitis;
- glossitis;
- dysbiosis;
- recurrence of fungal infection.
Side effects related to the central nervous system:
- hearing impairment (reversible);
- hallucinations;
- optic neuritis;
- peripheral neuritis;
- encephalopathy;
- depression;
- headache.
Side effects related to allergic reactions:
- fever;
- skin rash;
- anaphylaxis;
- Quincke's edema.
Contraindications to the use of the drug chloramphenicol
The tablets of the drug are not recommended if the patient has one or more of the following diseases (conditions):
- blood diseases, including suppression of blood formation;
- psoriasis;
- fungal skin lesions;
- eczema;
- impaired liver function;
- ARI;
- pregnancy and lactation;
- porphyria;
- age up to 3 years.
Drug overdose
In case of an overdose, if the medicine chloramphenicol is used, the following symptoms may be observed - possible complications from the organs and hemopoietic systems, which are usually associated with prolonged use of too large doses of the drug. Complications are manifested by sore throat, pallor of the skin, bleeding, fever and general weakness of the body.
In children with an overdose, the following can be observed:
- vomiting
- bloating;
- gray skin color;
- arrhythmic breathing;
- hypothermia;
- cardiovascular collapse.
In order to get rid of these symptoms, it is necessary immediately after their manifestation to stop taking the drug, rinse the stomach, start taking sorbents and, if necessary, start symptomatic treatment.
Drug Interactions with Chloramphenicol
Tablets should not be taken if the patient is prescribed drugs that inhibit hematopoiesis, and in particular, drugs such as cytostatics, pyrazolone derivatives and sulfonamides, and if there is no way to refuse them, then you should abandon the use of chloramphenicol and find an alternative to it.
Drugs such as phenobarbital, rifabutin and rifampicin significantly reduce the concentration and effectiveness of chloramphenicol.
The drug reduces the antibacterial effect of cephalosporins and penicillins. In addition, it can reduce the effectiveness of erythromycin, lincomycin, as well as clindamycin.