nitazoxanida

Nitazoxanide, known in some contexts as nitazoxanida, is an antiparasitic and antiviral medication used to treat gastrointestinal infections caused by protozoa such as Giardia lamblia and Cryptosporidium parvum, particularly in children but also in adults. It is taken orally, usually as a tablet or liquid suspension, and absorption increases when taken with a meal. It is a prodrug that is rapidly converted in the body to the active metabolite tizoxanide.

The mechanism of action differs for parasites and viruses. For protozoan infections, nitazoxanide disrupts the parasite’s energy metabolism by inhibiting the pyruvate:ferredoxin oxidoreductase enzyme-dependent electron transfer pathway. Its antiviral activity is broader and less well defined, but laboratory and some clinical data suggest interference with host pathways required for viral replication and maturation of viral proteins, rather than direct viral enzyme inhibition.

Pharmacokinetics and use: after ingestion, nitazoxanide is deacetylated to tizoxanide, which is highly protein-bound. The drug is primarily excreted in the urine and feces, and absorption is influenced by food intake. Dosing is generally weight-based and depends on the indication and patient population; treatment duration varies by organism and local guidelines.

Safety: Nitazoxanide is generally well tolerated. Common adverse effects include nausea, abdominal pain, diarrhea, headache, and vomiting. Allergic reactions are rare. It should be avoided in individuals with hypersensitivity to nitazoxanide or tizoxanide, and caution is advised in liver impairment or when using other medications that interact with hepatic metabolism.

History: Nitazoxanide was developed in the 1990s and marketed under the name Alinia in various markets; it received regulatory approval in the early 2000s for pediatric diarrhea due to Giardia and Cryptosporidium.