Diloxanide (Systemic)
   
Diloxanide (Systemic)
Description
Diloxanide (dye-LOKS-a-nide) is used to treat an infection called amebiasis, which is caused by protozoa (tiny, one-celled animals). It works by killing the protozoa.
Diloxanide is available only with your doctor's prescription in the following dosage form.
Special Considerations
In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For diloxanide, the following should be considered:
Allergies
Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to diloxanide. Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.
Pregnancy
Diloxanide has not been studied in pregnant women. However, diloxanide has not been shown to cause birth defects or other problems in animal studies.
Breast-feeding
It is not known whether diloxanide passes into breast milk. Although most medicines pass into breast milk in small amounts, many of them may be used safely while breast-feeding. Mothers who are taking this medicine and who wish to breast-feed should discuss this with their doctor.
Children
Although there is no specific information comparing use of diloxanide in children with use in other age groups, this medicine is not expected to cause different side effects or problems in children than it does in adults.
Older adults
Many medicines have not been studied specifically in older people. Therefore, it may not be known whether they work exactly the same way they do in younger adults. Although there is no specific information comparing use of diloxanide in the elderly with use in other age groups, this medicine is not expected to cause different side effects or problems in older people than it does in younger adults.
Other medicines
Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. Tell your health care professional if you are taking any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine.
Administration
Take this medicine after meals to lessen possible stomach upset, unless otherwise directed by your doctor.
To help clear up your infection completely, take this medicine for the full time of treatment . Do not miss any doses .
Dosing
The dose of diloxanide will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label . The following information includes only the average doses of diloxanide. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.
Missed dose
If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.
Storage
To store this medicine:
• Keep out of the reach of children.
• Store away from heat and direct light.
• Do not store in the bathroom, near the kitchen sink, or in other damp places. Heat or moisture may cause the medicine to break down.
• Keep the medicine from freezing. Do not refrigerate.
• Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed. Be sure that any discarded medicine is out of the reach of children.
Precautions
It is important that your doctor check your progress after treatment. This is to make sure that the infection is cleared up completely, and to allow your doctor to check for any unwanted effects.
Side Effects
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur:
Rare
Skin rash.
Other side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. However, check with your doctor if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome:
More common
Full feeling or passing gas; nausea.
Less common
Diarrhea; loss of appetite; stomach pain.
Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your doctor.
August 15, 1994 
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