Nifuroxazide is used to treat diarrhea caused by certain intestinal parasites such as Giardia lamblia and Cryptosporidium parvum. Nifuroxazide works by inhibiting the reproduction of certain substances essential for the survival of these parasites. It is a nitrofuran derivative with primary activity confined to the intestinal lumen due to negligible systemic absorption after oral administration; this pharmacokinetic profile makes it suitable for topical intestinal antiseptic use. Mechanistically, nifuroxazide exerts antimicrobial effects through nitro reduction pathways that generate reactive intermediates disrupting parasite and bacterial metabolic processes and nucleic acid function. Typical dosage forms are oral tablets and oral suspensions formulated for local gastrointestinal delivery. From a formulation and stability perspective, nifuroxazide shows good shelf stability in solid oral forms under standard storage conditions, is sparingly soluble in water and more soluble in polar organic solvents, and requires light-protected packaging to limit photodegradation.
Parent: Nifuroxazide / Butyl Parahydroxybenzoate
Parent: Nifuroxazide / Nitrofurazone
Parent: Nifuroxazide
Typical quality control specifications applied by manufacturers and pharmacopeial monographs limit related substances and impurities to conservative ranges to ensure safety and potency. Representative limits used in batches are assay purity greater than or equal to 98.0 percent, total related impurities not more than 2.0 percent by weight, and any single unspecified impurity not more than 0.5 percent by weight. Known related compounds observed during synthesis or degradation testing, such as nitrofuranyl-derived aldehydes or reduced amino derivatives, are typically controlled individually in the range of 0.1 to 0.5 percent depending on identification and toxicological assessment. Additional quality attributes commonly specified include heavy metals not more than 10 parts per million and loss on drying within product specific limits; residual solvents are controlled in accordance with ICH Q3C classification and limits applicable to the solvent class used.
Nifuroxazide is used primarily as an intestinal antiseptic to manage acute diarrheal infections caused by certain pathogens, including some protozoa and bacterial species; it acts locally in the gut with minimal systemic exposure.
Antinal is a trade name for nifuroxazide and is considered an antimicrobial agent from the nitrofuran class, used as an intestinal antiseptic; it functions similarly to antibiotics but is formulated to act locally in the gastrointestinal tract.
A commonly used trade name for nifuroxazide is Antinal; the substance is also referred to by its international nonproprietary name nifuroxazide.
Safety data in pregnancy are limited; because nifuroxazide has minimal systemic absorption, some clinicians consider its use when benefits outweigh potential risks, but pregnant patients should consult their healthcare provider before taking it.
