Chloramphenicol : Before Using - Chloromycetin, Novochlorocap

Chloramphenicol - Systemic

Brand Names

Chloromycetin, Novochlorocap Chloramphenicol *** Before Using *** How to Use *** Fore Safe Use *** Side Effects

Before Using

In deciding to using a medication, the chance of taking the drug must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you will make. For chloramphenicol, the following must be considered

Allergic reaction

Tell your family doctor if you have any unusual or allergy to chloramphenicol. Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.

Pregnancy care

Chloramphenicol has not been shown to cause birth defects. However, use is not recommended within a week or two of your delivery date. Chloramphenicol may cause gray skin color, low body temperature, bloated stomach, uneven breathing, drowsiness, pale skin, sore throat and fever, unusual bleeding or bruising, unusual tiredness or weakness, or other problems in the infant.

Breast-feeding problem

Chloramphenicol passes into the breast milk and has been shown to cause unwanted effects, such as pale skin, sore throat and fever, unusual bleeding or bruising, unusual tiredness or weakness, or other problems in nursing babies. It may be necessary for you to take another drug or to stop breast-feeding during treat. Be sure you have discussed the chance and benefits of the drug with your family doctor.

Use for Children

Newborn infants are especially sensitive to the side effects of chloramphenicol because they can't remove the drug from their body as well as older children and adults.

Elderly care

Many medication have not been studied specifically in elderly people. Therefore, it may not be known whether they work exactly the same way they do in adults people or if they cause various side effects or problems in elderly people. There is no special info comparing use of chloramphenicol in the elderly with use in other age groups.

Drug interactions

Although certain medication must not be using together at all, in other cases two various medication may be using together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your family doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking chloramphenicol, it is especially important that your health care professional know if you are taking any of the following:

Alfentanil
Antidiabetics, oral - diabetes drug you take by mouth
Phenobarbital
Warfarin - Coumadin Use of chloramphenicol with these medication may increase the risk of side side effects of medication

Amphotericin B by injection - Fungizone
Antineoplastics - cancer drug
Antithyroid agents - drug for overactive thyroid
Azathioprine - Imuran
Colchicine
Cyclophosphamide - Cytoxan
Ethotoin - Peganone
Flucytosine - Ancobon
Ganciclovir - Cytovene
Interferon - Intron A, Roferon-A
Mephenytoin - Mesantoin
Mercaptopurine - Purinethol
Methotrexate - Mexate
Phenytoin - Dilantin
Plicamycin - Mithracin
Zidovudine - AZT, Retrovir
X-ray treat Use of chloramphenicol with any of these medication or with x-ray treat may increase the risk of blood problems

Clindamycin - Cleocin
Erythromycins - drug for infection
Lincomycin - Lincocin Use of chloramphenicol with any of these medication may decrease the effectiveness of these medication

Phenytoin - Dilantin Use of chloramphenicol with phenytoin may increase the risk of blood problems or increase the side effects of phenytoin

Other Information for using

The presence of other medical problems may effect the use of chloramphenicol. Make sure you tell your family doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

Anemia, bleeding, or other blood problems Chloramphenicol may cause blood problems

Liver disease Patients with liver disease may have an increased risk of side effects