secnidazole

Action and Spectrum

Actions and Spectrum: 

Its mechanism of action is to inhibit the synthesis of DNA in the microorganism, leading to its death. 

secnidazole has a broad spectrum of activity, meaning it is effective against a wide range of microorganisms. It is active against certain types of bacteria, including anaerobic bacteria, which are bacteria that do not require oxygen to survive. 

Drug Interaction

Adverse Reaction

Frequency defined  

1-10%  

Headache (3.6%)  

Nausea (3.6-5.3%)  

Dysgeusia (3.4%)  

Diarrhea (2.5%)  

Vomiting (2.5%)  

Vulvovaginal candidiasis (8.4-9.6%)  

Vulvovaginal pruritus (2%)  

Abdominal pain (2%)  

Black Box Warning

Contraindication / Caution

Contraindication/Caution: 

Contraindications of secnidazole include: 

• Hypersensitivity to secnidazole or any of the excipients in the product 
• Severe liver impairment 

Caution should be exercised when using secnidazole in patients with: 

• Moderate liver impairment 
• Pregnancy and lactation, as safety in these populations has not been established 
• Patients with blood disorders, as secnidazole may cause anemia, leucopenia, and thrombocytopenia 
• Patients with a history of seizures, as secnidazole may cause seizures 

Pregnancy / Lactation

Pregnancy warnings:     

US FDA pregnancy category: Not assigned 

Lactation:   

Excreted into human milk is unknown  

Pregnancy Categories:         

Category A: well-controlled and Satisfactory studies show no risk to the fetus in the first or later trimester.    

Category B: there was no evidence of risk to the fetus in animal studies, and there were not enough studies on pregnant women.   

Category C: there was evidence of risk of adverse effects in animal reproduction studies, and no adequate evidence in human studies must take care of potential risks in pregnant women.     

Category D: adequate data available with sufficient evidence of human fetal risk from various platforms, but despite the potential risk, and used only in emergency cases for potential benefits.     

Category X: Drugs listed in this category outweigh the risks over benefits. Hence these categories of drugs need to be avoided by pregnant women.     

Category N: There is no data available for the drug under this category 

Pharmacology

Pharmacology:  

secnidazole is an antibiotic that belongs to the class of drugs known as nitroimidazoles. It is used for the treatment of bacterial infections, particularly those caused by anaerobic bacteria, which are microorganisms that grow in the absence of oxygen.  

Pharmacodynamics: 

secnidazole works by penetrating bacterial cells and inhibiting the synthesis of bacterial DNA. This leads to the death of the bacteria and the elimination of the infection.  

Pharmacokinetics:  

Absorption  

secnidazole is an oral medication that is well absorbed in the gut, with peak plasma concentrations reached within 4-6 hours. The peak plasma concentrations range from 40-45 mcg/mL, and the area under the curve (AUC) ranges from 1248-1523 mcg·hr/mL  

Distribution   

The Vd of secnidazole is 42 L, and it has a protein binding of less than 5%  

Metabolism   

secnidazole is metabolized by the CYP450 enzyme system 

Elimination and excretion  

The drug is primarily eliminated via the kidneys, with a renal clearance of 3.9 mL/min and an overall clearance of 25 mL/min. About 15% of the dose is excreted unchanged in the urine.

Adminstartion

Administration:  

Oral Administration  

secnidazole is an oral medication that is typically administered as a single dose. The recommended dosage for adults is 2 grams (g) taken as a single dose.  

It is important to follow the instructions provided by your healthcare provider and to not exceed the recommended dosage. Do not take extra medicine to make up for a missed dose. 

Patient Information Leaflet

Patient information leaflet 

Generic Name: secnidazole  

Why do we use Secnidazole? 

secnidazole is an antibiotic medication used to treat certain types of bacterial and parasitic infections. It is most commonly used to treat infections caused by protozoan parasites such as Trichomonas vaginalis, which is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) that can cause vaginitis in women and urethritis in men. 

secnidazole is also used to treat other conditions such as giardiasis, amebiasis, and anaerobic bacterial infections. It is particularly useful in treating infections caused by protozoan parasites as it is effective against both the cyst and trophozoite forms of the parasites