Description
Nitazoxanide
What is Nitazoxanide and what is it used for?
Nitazoxanide is a prescription antiprotozoal medication. It comes in a tablet and suspension form. It is normally taken at doses of 500 mg every 12 hours for 3 days and should be taken with food. It is used to treat diarrhea caused by certain parasitic infections. It is also used to treat a wide range of viruses such as influenza, hepatitis B and C, norovirus, rotavirus, Ebola, and is currently being studied as a treatment option for mild to moderate cases of COVID-19.
How does Nitazoxanide work?
Nitazoxanide is rapidly metabolized to the active metabolite tizoxanide in the body. Activity may be due to interference with the pyruvate: ferredoxin oxidoreductase (PFOR) enzyme-dependent electron transfer reaction which is essential to anaerobic metabolism. In the body, nitazoxanide and tizoxanide inhibit the growth of sporozoites and oocysts of Cryptosporidium parvum and trophozoites of Giardia lamblia.
Nitazoxanide side effects:
As a well-tolerated medication, the side effects are rare. The side effects that are most commonly reported are abdominal pain, headache, urine discoloration, and nausea.
Other cautions:
Nitazoxanide is a highly protein bound drug, therefore it will compete for efficacy with certain medications. Speak with your doctor about the medications you are taking to be aware of any interactions.
LDN for inflammatory/autoimmune disorders:
Inflammation is the natural way that our body fights off foreign invaders and heals injury. However, chronic or uncontrolled inflammation can damage healthy cells in the body and result in chronic diseases such as arthritis or fibromyalgia. Inflammation in the gut can cause Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis, and inflammation in the brain can lead to depression, Alzheimer’s disease, or multiple sclerosis. LDN pathways modulate your body’s immune response by decreasing pro-inflammatory markers and increasing your specialized immune cells to decrease inflammation.
Self-Guided Research:
COVID-19 Treatment Guidelines Panel. Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Treatment Guidelines. National Institutes of Health. Available at https://www.covid19treatmentguidelines.nih.gov/. Accessed 9/16/21.
Lokhande, A. S., & Devarajan, P. V. (2021). A review on possible mechanistic insights of Nitazoxanide for repurposing in COVID-19. European journal of pharmacology, 891, 173748. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejphar.2020.173748
Nitazoxanide: Lexi-Drugs. [updated 2021 Aug 14; cited 2021 Sept 15]
