benznidazole
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.
Key facts
- Drug.verifiedrevid
- 414638558
- Drug.image
- Benznidazole.svg
- Drug.image_class
- skin-invert-image
- Drug.tradename
- Rochagan, Radanil
- Drug.DailyMedID
- Benznidazole
- Drug.routes_of_administration
- By mouth
- Drug.ATC_prefix
- P01
- Drug.ATC_suffix
- CA02
- Drug.legal_US
- Rx-only
- Drug.bioavailability
- High
- Drug.metabolism
- Liver
- Drug.elimination_half life
- 12 hours
- Drug.excretion
Article
10 sectionsContents
- Medical uses
- Children
- Pregnant women
- Side effects
- Contraindications
- Pharmacology
- Mechanism of action
- Pharmacokinetics
- Interactions
- References
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.
Side effects are fairly common. They include rash, numbness, fever, muscle pain, loss of appetite, and trouble sleeping. Rare side effects include bone marrow suppression which can lead to low blood cell levels. It is not recommended during pregnancy or in people with severe liver or kidney disease. Benznidazole is in the nitroimidazole family of medication and works by the production of free radicals.