Chloramphenicol
Chloramphenicol or chloramphenicol is a drug whose use must include a doctor’s prescription.
This drug is an antibiotic that can treat health complaints caused by bacterial infections.
Class: Prescription drugs.
Category: Antibiotics.
Benefits: Treats bacterial infections in the body by inhibiting bacterial growth.
Used by: Children and adults.
Chloramphenicol for pregnant and lactating mothers: Category C. Animal studies have shown side effects from the use of this drug. However, research is still needed in pregnant women.
In addition, this drug cannot be used in the third trimester of pregnancy because it can trigger grey baby syndrome in babies.
Chloramphenicol content can also enter the blood and absorb into breast milk. So, do not use this medicine carelessly without a doctor’s direction.
Drug form: Chloramphenicol is available in the form of tablets, capsules, syrup, ointment, drops and injections.
Warnings Before Using Chloramphenicol
Pay attention to these things before consuming chloramphenicol, namely:
- Tell your doctor if you are allergic to this medication. You should also tell your doctor about any other allergies you have.
- Inform your doctor about your medical history. For example, such as viral infections, fungal infections , kidney disorders, liver disease, anemia or a history of radiation therapy.
- Do not drive, operate machinery or perform activities that require alertness. This medication may cause temporary blurred vision.
- For pregnant women, the use of chloramphenicol is only really needed. The use of chloramphenicol in the third trimester is also not recommended by doctors because it can cause baby gray syndrome. Discuss with your doctor about the benefits and risks.
- This medication can also be absorbed into breast milk. That is why, nursing mothers also need to consult a doctor first before using it.
- A person who consumes chloramphenicol is more susceptible to bleeding, infection, and slow-healing wounds, especially in the oral cavity. Therefore, be careful when using a toothbrush, dental floss, and toothpicks.
- If you are planning to undergo dental treatment, it is best to postpone it until you have finished using chloramphenicol.
- You need to finish the antibiotics according to your doctor’s instructions. Continue taking chloramphenicol even if the symptoms have subsided. Stopping it can actually trigger re-infection and cause antibiotic resistance. This makes the infection more difficult to treat.
Benefits of Chloramphenicol
The main benefit of chloramphenicol is to treat bacterial infections by preventing the growth of bacteria, so that the immune system can eradicate the infection easily.
Compared to other antibiotics , this drug is more often used to treat serious infections.
The following diseases can improve with the use of chloramphenicol, namely:
1. Eye health disorders
Chloramphenicol is one type of drug that is very effective in treating eye health problems caused by bacterial infections. One of the diseases that can be improved by using this drug is conjunctivitis.
2. Meningitis
Meningitis is a disease that occurs due to inflammation of the lining of the brain. There are several causes of meningitis, namely bacterial, fungal, and viral infections.
Chloramphenicol is considered effective in treating meningitis caused by bacterial infections.
Reporting from the International Journal of Pediatrics with the journal title “Management of Typhoid Fever and Bacterial Meningitis by Chloramphenicol in Infants and Children “, chloramphenicol can work by inhibiting protein synthesis in bacteria that trigger meningitis. Examples include Haemophilus influenza, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Neisseria meningitidis.
Thus, this treatment is the best choice for treating bacterial meningitis.
3. Typhoid fever
Chloramphenicol is one type of drug that is effective in treating typhoid fever. Because, the disease generally occurs due to bacterial infection.
Then, what bacteria does chloramphenicol kill? To treat this disease, chloramphenicol can kill Salmonella typhi bacteria.
4. Treating other diseases
Apart from the three diseases above, chloramphenicol is also used to treat:
- Gastroenteritis.
- Abscess.
- Pelvic inflammatory disease.
- Listeriosis.
- Gangrene.
Chloramphenicol Trademarks
Medicines containing Chloramphenicol are available in the form of creams, tablets, and also liquids. Here are some of the trademarks of Chloramphenicol:
- Farsycol Cream 10 g. Used to treat skin infections caused by bacteria.
- Erlamycetin 1% Eye Ointment 3.5 g . This drug is a broad-spectrum antibiotic that is bacteriostatic. Used to treat eye disease infections.
- Erlamycetin 1% Ear Drops 10 ml. Used to treat infections in the ear or ear canal.
- Kalmicetine 20 mg/g Ointment 15 g. Used to treat and prevent skin infections caused by bacteria.
- Bufacetine Ointment 15 g. Used to treat infections caused by bacteria.
- Cendo Fenicol 1% Eye Ointment 3.5 g. It is a sterile antibiotic ointment to treat eye infections.
Dosage and Rules for Use of Chloramphenicol
The dosage of chloramphenicol is adjusted to age, body weight, type of disease, and its severity.
In general, the following is the dosage for using chloramphenicol:
- Adults: 12.5 milligrams per kilogram of body weight taken four times a day. In cases of serious infection, the dose can be increased to 25 milligrams per kilogram of body weight taken four times a day.
- Infants aged 0–2 weeks: 6.25 milligrams per kilogram of body weight four times a day.
- Infants over two weeks: 12.5 milligrams per kilogram four times a day, or 25 milligrams taken twice a day.
How to Use Chloramphenicol
Here’s how to use chloramphenicol based on the form of the drug:
1. Capsules and suspensions
Consume as directed by your doctor or the instructions on your prescription. Chloramphenicol capsules and suspensions are best taken on an empty stomach.
Give a gap of about 1-2 hours before or after eating. Do not increase or decrease the dose without the knowledge of the doctor.
When taking suspension medication, shake the bottle first. Then, use a measuring spoon to make sure the dose is correct. Avoid using a tablespoon that has an uncertain measurement.
Take your medication at the same time every day to make it easier for you to remember.
If you forget and the next dose is not too close, take it as soon as you remember. However, if it is too close to the next dose, skip the missed dose and do not double the dose.
Store the medicine at room temperature and not exposed to direct sunlight. Avoid storing it in hot or humid temperatures. Keep out of reach of children.
2. Injection
Chloramphenicol injections should only be given by a doctor or medical staff under the supervision of a doctor. Injections are generally given through an IV.
Chloramphenicol Side Effects
Chloramphenicol can cause several side effects, such as:
See a doctor if the above symptoms persist or worsen. You also need to be aware of drug allergies, such as:
- Rash.
- Itchy.
- Swelling in the face, tongue or throat.
- Severe headache.
- Difficulty breathing.
- Easily get rashes on the skin.
- Diarrhea is slimy and bloody.
- Bleeding from a wound that is difficult to stop.
- Numbness in some parts of the body.
- Eye disorders, such as blurred vision, inability to see clearly, pain when moving the eyes, and feeling a sensation of lightning in the eyes.
Use in pregnant women that is not in accordance with doctor’s recommendations can cause disorders in the baby, such as grey baby syndrome.
Babies who suffer from this condition may experience symptoms, such as:
- The skin and nails turn a grayish color.
- Bloated.
- It’s easier to vomit.
- Diarrhea that does not improve.
- Loss of appetite.
- More fussy.
- The baby becomes weaker and less active.
If not treated immediately, this condition can cause death in infants.
Seek medical help immediately if you experience the above symptoms.
Chloramphenicol Interactions
Drug interactions can decrease the effectiveness of the drug or increase serious side effects. Drugs that can interact with chloramphenicol include:
- The sulfonamide antibiotics you take with chloramphenicol have the potential to cause blood disorders and inhibit bone marrow function.
- Taking it with anticoagulant drugs increases the risk of bleeding.
- It can cause hypoglycemia if you take it with sulfonylurea diabetes medication.
- If you take rifampicin and phenobarbital together, it can change the way the drug works or reduce its effectiveness.
- Chloramphenicol can interfere with the absorption of iron and vitamin B12.
- If you use it long-term, it can reduce the effectiveness of birth control pills containing estrogen.
- If you take it with phenytoin, ciclosporin, and tacrolimus, it has the potential to increase side effects.
- Consumption of cholerampenicol may reduce the effectiveness of typhoid vaccines or other bacterial vaccines.
Chloramphenicol Contraindications
Contraindications are conditions, diseases, or situations that make it inadvisable or impossible for a person to take certain medications.
Chloramphenicol is contraindicated for someone who is allergic to this drug. The antibiotic drug should also not be used to treat minor infections, such as colds, influenza or throat infections.