What is a chemical compound like chloramphenicol? Instructions for the use of drugs based on this substance will be presented below. We will also tell you about the properties that this tool has, what trade name it has, from which it is assigned, etc.
General information
What properties are inherent in a chemical such as chloramphenicol? Instructions for use reports that this is a striking representative of the antibiotic group Amphenicol. The greatest antibacterial properties are possessed by its levorotatory isomer.
The compound is odorless and colorless crystals. It is poorly soluble in water, but it is well soluble in propylene glycol, pyridine, ethylene glycol and ethanol. This substance is used as an antibiotic not only in medicine, but also in animal husbandry.
Under what name can chloramphenicol be purchased at a pharmacy? The trade name for this product is “Levomycetin”.
The considered component was first synthesized back in 1940 from Streptomyces venezuelae. Today, this antibiotic is obtained from styrene through a 10-step synthesis.
The drug in question is quite effective. However, it is very toxic and often causes adverse reactions.
Medicines containing chloramphenicol (the trade name was presented above) are available in the form of ointments, drops, a solution for intramuscular and intravenous administration, as well as tablets and capsules.
Pharmacodynamics
How does chloramphenicol work? Instructions for use report that this tool is capable of disrupting the synthesis of bacterial proteins by inhibiting an enzyme such as dioxo-peptidyl transferase. It is impossible not to say that chloramphenicol has a pronounced bacteriostatic effect. It is active against streptococci, large viruses, gram-negative bacteria and staphylococci. A characteristic feature of this antibiotic is that it adversely affects strains that are resistant to sulfonamide, penicillin and streptomycin. As for tolerance, it develops very slowly towards the drug in question.
Pharmacokinetics
Is chloramphenicol absorbed? Instructions for use report that with the oral administration of the drug, this substance is quickly absorbed from the digestive tract. The maximum concentration of chloramphenicol is reached after three hours, and its bioavailability is 90%.
About half the drug binds to plasma proteins.
Chloramphenicol is metabolized in the liver and excreted through the kidneys within three hours, as well as along with bile and feces. It should also be noted that this compound undergoes hydrolysis in the intestine, resulting in the formation of inactive metabolites.
With topical use of the drug or its entry into the conjunctival sac, it has an insignificant degree of systemic absorption. But at the same time, the antibiotic creates a sufficient concentration on the surface of the skin or in the moisture of the eye to contribute to the bacteriostatic effect.
Indications for use
For what purpose are Levomycetin capsules or tablets prescribed? Chloramphenicol for oral administration is used in the treatment of typhoid fever, paratyphoid fever, salmonellosis in generalized form, various rickettsioses, brucellosis, tularemia, dysentery, brain abscesses and meningococcal infections.
Also, this remedy is often prescribed to patients with chlamydia, trachoma, purulent wound infections, peritonitis, ehrlichiosis, inguinal lymphogranuloma, various infections of the biliary and urinary tract, yersiniosis.
What external diseases does chloramphenicol treat? The ointment is prescribed for wounds, infectious skin diseases, boils, burns, trophic ulcers and pressure sores. It is also used for cracks in the nipples of nursing mothers.
Chloramphenicol drops are instilled into the conjunctival sac to treat keratitis, bacterial infections of the eyes, blepharitis, conjunctivitis, scleritis, keratoconjunctivitis and episcleritis.
Contraindications
Medicines, which include chloramphenicol, are not recommended for:
- in childhood (up to one month);
- with blood diseases;
- with fungal infections on the skin, psoriasis and eczema;
- people with a deficiency of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and liver diseases;
- nursing mothers and pregnant women;
- with an allergy to the specified substance or other antibiotic agents belonging to this group.
Extreme caution must be observed in diseases of the vessels and heart, as well as with a tendency to allergic reactions.
"Chloramphenicol": instructions for use of drugs
As mentioned above, funds based on this substance are used intramuscularly, intravenously, topically, orally and conjunctively.
The treatment regimen and its duration depend on the dosage form of the drug and the disease. They are determined by the attending physician individually.
Levomycetin tablets must be taken 30 minutes before meals or an hour after.
With intravenous or intramuscular injection, as well as oral administration, adult patients are prescribed 2 g of the active element per day (divided into 4 parts).
The maximum dosage of this medication per day is 4 g. With this amount of medicine, it is imperative to monitor the work of the kidneys and blood counts.
For children, this drug is prescribed depending on body weight:
- up to 3 years - 10-15 mg per kg;
- 3-8 years - 15-20 mg per kg;
- over 8 years old - 20-30 mg per kg.
The frequency of use of the solution or tablets in children is the same as in adults.
The duration of treatment with this antibiotic is 7-11 days. The maximum duration of therapy is 2 weeks.
For external use of the drug, it is applied to the affected areas several times a day using gauze wipes. If necessary, the product can be applied together with an occlusive dressing. In this case, dressings are done every 3 days until the wound is cleaned and healed.
As for the drops, they are used in the form of a 0.25 and 1% solution in combination with other drugs.
Side effects
The use of the drug in question can cause:
- itching and irritation (with local application);
- agranulocytosis, thrombocytopenia, aplastic anemia, leukopenia;
- dysbiosis;
- delirium, neuritis, various hallucinations, headache, confusion, depression;
- hypogemoglobinemia, reticulocytopenia;
- Quincke's edema, urticaria, rashes on the skin;
- nausea, increased gas, diarrhea, irritation of the oral mucosa, vomiting, indigestion;
- fungal infections, dermatitis;
- decreased hearing and visual acuity, impaired taste perception.
In children under 12 months of age, cardiovascular collapse may develop.
Price, synonyms and analogues
The synonyms of the drug in question are: Levovinisol, Sintomycin, Levomycetin, Levomycetin Actitab, Levomycetin sodium succinate, Levomycetin-LekT, alcohol solution of Levomycetin, chloramphenicol sodium succinate sterile, Levomycetin-Acetone.
It should also be noted that in pharmacies you can also find analogues of this drug: Levomethyl, Levomekol (chloramphenicol + dioxomethyl tetrahydropyrimidine), Levosin (sulfadimethoxine + dioxomethyl tetrahydropyrimidine + chloramphenicol + trimecaine).
As for the price, the antibiotic in question is not very high. Any form of the drug can be purchased for 40-90 rubles.
Drug Reviews
Despite the large number of side effects, as well as the toxicity of agents containing chloramphenicol, they are used very often. Most patients are attracted by the low cost of the drug, as well as the variety of its dosage forms.
According to experts, such an antibiotic is most often prescribed for topical application to eliminate acne and other skin rashes.
If synonyms of this drug are unavailable, an analogue such as Levomekol (chloramphenicol + dioxomethyltetrahydropyrimidine) is used. However, they do this only after consulting a doctor.