Benznidazole : Uses, Side Effects, Interactions & More

Benznidazole 100 mg tablets are scored so they can be easily divided into halves or quarters. If your doctor has told you to take only one part of a tablet, hold the tablet between your thumb and forefinger near the marked line and apply pressure to separate the number of parts needed for the dose. Use only a part of a tablet that has been broken at the marked line.

If you cannot swallow the tablets whole, you can dissolve them in water. Put the prescribed number of tablets (or tablet servings) in a drinking cup. Add the amount of water prescribed by your doctor or pharmacist to the cup. Wait 1 to 2 minutes to allow the tablets to disintegrate in the cup, then gently shake the contents of the cup to mix. Drink the mixture immediately. Then rinse the cup with an additional amount of water as directed by your doctor and drink the entire amount. Drink all of this mixture to make sure you get all of the medicine.

Ask your pharmacist or doctor for a copy of the manufacturer’s information for the patient.

This medicine may be prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Before taking benznidazole,

• Tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to benznidazole, metronidazole (Flagyl, in Pylera), any other medications, or any of the ingredients in benznidazole tablets. Ask your pharmacist for a list of the ingredients.
• Tell your doctor if you are taking or have taken disulfiram (Antabuse). Your doctor may tell you not to take benznidazole if you are taking disulfiram or have taken it in the past two weeks.
• Tell your doctor and pharmacist what other prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or plan to take. Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you closely for side effects.
• Tell your doctor if you have or have ever had a blood disorder or liver disease.
• Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Women who can become pregnant should take a pregnancy test before starting this medicine. You must use birth control to prevent pregnancy during your treatment and for 5 days after your final dose. If you become pregnant while taking benznidazole, call your doctor. Benznidazole can harm an unborn baby.
• Do not breastfeed while taking benznidazole.
• You should know that this medicine can decrease fertility in men. Talk to your doctor about the risks of taking benznidazole.
• Do not drink alcoholic beverages or take products with alcohol or propylene glycol while you are taking this medicine and for at least 3 days after your treatment ends. Alcohol and propylene glycol can cause nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, headache, sweating, and flushing (flushing of the face) when taken during treatment with benznidazole.

Benznidazole may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

• headache
• dizziness
• stomach pain
• nausea
• vomiting
• diarrhea
• loss of appetite
• weight loss
• uncontrollable shaking of a part of the body

Some side effects can be serious. If you experience any of these symptoms, stop this medication and call your doctor immediately:

• rash
• swollen, red, peeling, or blistering skin
• hives
• itching
• red- or purple-colored skin spots
• fever
• swollen lymph nodes
• numbness, pain, burning, or tingling in your hands or feet

Benznidazole may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while taking this medicine.

If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor can submit a report online to the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program (http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch) or by phone (1-800-332-1088).

It is important to keep all medicines out of the sight and reach of children, as many containers (such as those containing weekly pills and those for eye drops, creams, patches and inhalers) are not child-resistant and small children can easily open them. To protect young children from poisoning, always close the safety caps and immediately place the medicine in a safe place, one that is upright and out of their sight and reach. http://www.upandaway.org

Unnecessary medications must be disposed of in special ways to ensure that pets, children, and others cannot consume them. However, you should not flush this medicine down the toilet. Instead, the best way to dispose of your medications is through a drug take-back program. Talk to your pharmacist or contact your local garbage / recycling department to find out about take-back programs in your community. Check out the FDA drug safe disposal website (http://goo.gl/c4Rm4p) for more information if you do not have access to a take-back program.

Do not let anyone else take your medicine. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about refilling your prescription.

It is important that you keep a written list of all the prescription and over-the-counter (over-the-counter) medications you are taking, as well as any products such as vitamins, minerals, or other dietary supplements. You should take this list with you every time you visit a doctor or if you are admitted to a hospital. It is also important information to take with you in case of emergencies.

Disclaimer: DrLinex has made every effort to ensure that all information is factually accurate, comprehensive and up-to-date. However, this article should not be used as a licensed health care professional’s choice of knowledge and expertise. You should always consult your doctor or other health care professional before taking any medication. The information given here is subject to change and it has not been used to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions or adverse effects. The lack of warning or other information for any drug does not indicate that the combination of medicine or medication is safe, effective or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.