Furazidine (furagine) is an active drug substance that has an antibacterial effect. Furazidine (furagine) is used to treat infections of the lower urinary tract. Furazidine (furagine) is available both over the counter and on a prescription. How to dose furagin? What are the contraindications to its use? How to dose furagin and how much to use it? What are the side effects of furaginum?
Furazidine (furagine)is an active drug substance that has an antibacterial effect. Furazidine (furagine) belongs to the group of drugs called nitrofuran derivatives.
Furazidine (furagine) - action
Furazidine (furagine) has an antibacterial effect. This action is as follows:
- inhibiting bacterial protein synthesis and damaging bacterial DNA. As a consequence, the process of multiplication of bacteria is inhibited
- activating the body's immune system to fight bacteria more effectively
Furagina has a broad antibacterial effect. It fights gram-positive bacteria (staphylococci such as Staphylococcus epidermidis, golden staphylococcus, and also fecal streptococcus) and many gram-negative strains (enterobacteria: Salmonella, Shigella, Proteus, pneumonia, E. coli).
It does not work on blue oil sticks (Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and most strains of misfits (Proteus vulgaris).
In addition, furagin has antiprotozoal properties and only a slight antifungal effect.
Furazidine (furagin) - indications for use
Furazidine (furagine) is used in the treatment and prevention of acute and chronic uncomplicated bacterial infections of the lower urinary tract, including severe infections where the use of other antibacterial agents has failed. Furagin is therefore indicated when symptoms appear, such as:
- pain and burning when urinating
- pollakiuria
- pressure on the bladder
- pain in the lower abdomen - in the suprapubic area and below the navel
- change in color, smell and appearance of urine
- hematuria
- fever
If you experience these symptoms, please contact your doctor.
Furazidine (furagine) - contraindications
- hypersensitivity to the active substance or nitrofuran derivatives
- severe kidney failure
- diagnosed polyneuropathy, e.g. diabetic
- glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency
Particular care should be taken in patients with:
- kidney failure
- anemia
- deficiency of B vitamins and folic acid
- lung diseases
- diabetic
Furazidine (furagine) in pregnancy
The use of furagin is also contraindicated :
- 1st trimester of pregnancy and time from 38th week of pregnancy
- breastfeeding period
The drug crosses the placenta well as well as into breast milk and may cause haemolytic anemia in the baby.
Remembers! During pregnancy, do not use any medication without consulting your doctor! It is very important that before taking any drug during pregnancy or breastfeeding, consult a doctor
Furazidine (furagine) - dosage
Furagina is available in two forms - tablets for oral use and oral suspension. In adults, it should be dosed as follows:
- tablets - first day of treatment: 100 mg (2 tablets) 4 times a day, next days: 100 mg (2 tablets) 3 times a day
- oral suspension - first day of treatment: 10 ml 4 times a day, next days 10 ml 3 times a day
The drug should be taken orally with meals containing a protein that increases the bioavailability of nitrofuran derivatives.
Furazidine (furagine) in children
Furgaine can also be used in children, but in those over 3 months of age:
- tablets - administered at a dose of 5-7 mg / kg body weight / day in 2-3 divided doses. To make it easier for a small child to take the medicine, you can crush the tablet and dissolve it in milk
- oral suspension - 5-7 mg / kg bw / day in 2-3 divided doses
Furagina in a small child under 2 years of age should be used only after consulting a doctor, in justified cases.
For both children and adults, treatment with furagin lasts 7-8 days. If necessary, the treatment can be repeated after 10-15 days.
Furazidine (furagine) - side effects
The most common side effects after taking furagine are:
- headaches
- nausea
- excessive gas discharge
Less common side effects are dizziness, somnolence, visual disturbances,peripheral neuropathy, constipation, diarrhea, indigestion, abdominal pain, vomiting.
Among the rare side effects there are also e.g. pancreatitis, pseudomembranous enteritis, drug-induced hepatitis, allergic reactions (pruritus, urticaria, rash), angioedema, anaphylactic reactions and severe skin reactions including exfoliative dermatitis, erythema multiforme, Stevens-Johnson syndrome.
Clinical studies have shown that nitrofuran derivatives have a negative effect on testicular function. They can reduce sperm motility, reduce sperm secretion and lead to pathological changes in sperm morphology.
Furazidine (furagine) interacts with other medications
- nalidixic acid, norfloxacin, oxolinic acid (drugs from the group of quinolones with bactericidal activity) - furazidine (furagine) has an opposite effect and inhibits the antibacterial effect of the above drugs
- aminoglycoside antibiotics and tetracyclines used with furazidine increase its antibacterial effect
- chloramphenicol and ristomycin increase the toxic effects of furazidine on blood cells
- drugs that increase the excretion of uric acid, such as probenecid and sulfinpyrazone, reduce the excretion of furazidine, which reduces its concentration in the urine and, consequently, may reduce its effectiveness; at the same time, accumulation of furazidine in the body and intensification of its toxic effects is possible
- antacids, which contain magnesium compounds, reduce the absorption of furazidine
- atropine delays the absorption of furazidine, but does not affect the total amount absorbed
- taking B vitamins increases the absorption of nitrofuran derivatives