Uses of Secnidal: - Bacterial & parasitic infections Giardiasis, Amoebiasis, Trichomoniasis Hypersensitivity; pregnancy (1st trimester) and lactation.

Amoebicides, Anti-diarrhoeal Antiprotozoal

Secnidazole is the first nitroimidazole to offer a 3 day antiprotozoal activity from one single dose. With its prolonged half life, Secnidazole offers an effective treatment and thus ensures improved patient compliance because of the short duration of treatment with excellent therapeutic efficacy.Secnidazole exhibits activity against anaerobic protozoa Entamoeba histolytica, Giardia lamblia and Trichomonas vaginalis. Secnidazole is rapidly absorbed following oral administration. The maximum serum level is obtained after 3 hours following oral administration of 2 gm secnidazole.The plasma elimination half life is about 20 hours. The majority of Secnidazole is eliminated via urine (50% of the ingested dose is excreted within 120 hours). The pharmacokinetic profile of Secnidazole gives it the longest half-life of all the second generation nitroimidazoles, ensuring 72-hour therapeutic blood levels from a 2 gm single dose.

How to use Secnidazole: Take this medicine in the dose and duration as advised by your doctor. Swallow it as a whole. Do not chew, crush or break it. Secnidazole is to be taken with food. Adult Dose: Oral Trichomoniasis; Amoebiasis; Giardiasis Adult: 2 g as a single dose. Severe invasive amoebiasis Adult: 1.5 g daily as single or in divided doses for 5 days. Child Dose: Oral Trichomoniasis; Amoebiasis; Giardiasis Child: 30 mg/kg as a single dose. Severe invasive amoebiasis Child: 30 mg/kg daily for 5 days.

Concurrent disulfiram admin may cause psychotic reactions. Disulfiram-like reactions with alcohol. Cimetidine may prolong half-life. Potentially Fatal: May potentiate anticoagulant effect of warfarin and increase risk of haemorrhage.

Hypersensitivity; pregnancy (1st trimester) and lactation.

Common - Headache - Nausea - Vomiting - Abdominal pain - Diarrhea - Vaginal itching - Vaginal yeast infection Nausea, gastralgia, change of taste, metallic taste, stomatitis, urticaria, rashes, leucopenia. Rarely vertigo, moderate neurological, digestive disturbances.

Secnidazole may be prescribed in pregnancy after the first trimester. As with other similar drugs, secnidazole should not be administered during the first trimester of pregnancy or during lactation because secnidazole is found in placenta and breast milk.

Precaution: Avoid alcohol and disulfiram. Avoid in patients with history of blood disorders.

Store in a cool, dry place,protected from heat.

Amoebicides, Anti-diarrhoeal Antiprotozoal

Secnidazole is active against E histolytica, G lamblia, T vaginalis, Clostridium spp, B fragilis, Gardnerella spp. The drug enters the microorganisms by diffusion and is reduced intracellularly by low oxidation-reduction potential ferredoxin which then result in DNA damage.

Secnidazole may be prescribed in pregnancy after the first trimester. As with other similar drugs, Secnidazole should not be administered during the first trimester of pregnancy or during lactation because Secnidazoleis found in the placenta and breast milk.