Nitroimidazoles

Azathioprine, sold under the brand name Imuran, among others, is an immunosuppressive medication. It is used for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, granulomatosis with polyangiitis, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, and systemic lupus erythematosus, and in kidney transplants to prevent rejection. It is listed by the International Agency for Research on Cancer as a group 1 human carcinogen. It is taken by mouth or injected into a vein.

Benznidazole is an antiparasitic medication used in the treatment of Chagas disease. While it is highly effective in early disease, the effectiveness decreases in those who have long-term infection. It is the first-line treatment given its moderate side effects compared to nifurtimox. It is taken by mouth.

Fexinidazole is a medication used to treat African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness) caused by Trypanosoma brucei gambiense. It is effective against both first and second stage disease. It is taken by mouth.

Nitroimidazoles are the group of organic compounds consisting of an imidazole ring with at least one nitro group substituent. The term also refers to the class of antibiotics that have nitroimidazole in their structures. These antibiotics commonly include the 5-nitroimidazole positional isomer.

Ronidazole is an antiprotozoal agent used in veterinary medicine for the treatment of histomoniasis and swine dysentery as well as Trichomonas gallinae, hexamitosis, Giardia, and Cochlosoma in all aviary birds and pigeons. It may also have use for the treatment of Tritrichomonas foetus infection in cats and for the treatment of Clostridioides difficile infection in humans.

Etanidazole is a nitroimidazole drug that was investigated in clinical trials for its radiosensitizing properties in cancer treatment. Administration of etanidazole results in a decrease of glutathione concentration and inhibits glutathione S-transferase. The result is that tissues become more sensitive to the ionizing radiation.

Hydroxymetronidazole is the main metabolite of metronidazole. Both have antibiotic and antiprotozoal activity.

Carnidazole (trade names Spartrix, Pantrix, Gambamix) is an antiprotozoal drug of the nitroimidazole class used in veterinary medicine. It is used to treat Trichomonas infection in pigeons.

EF5 is a nitroimidazole derivative used in oncology research. Due to its similarity in chemical structure to etanidazole, EF5 binds in cells displaying hypoxia.

Ipronidazole is an antiprotozoal drug of the nitroimidazole class used in veterinary medicine. It is used for the treatment of histomoniasis in turkeys and for swine dysentery.

Misonidazole is a radiosensitizer that was investigated in clinical trials. It was used in these trials for radiation therapy to cause normally resistant hypoxic tumor cells to become sensitive to the treatment.

Abunidazole (INN) is a nitroimidazole antifungal medication. It was named in 1984 but apparently never marketed.