Anti-Protozoal Drugs are medicines or drugs used to treat infections or
diseases caused by Protozoa. These drugs destroy protozoa or prevent their
growth and ability to reproduce. They are available in liquid, tablet, and
injectable forms. These drugs are to be taken only with a doctor's
prescription.
What is Protozoa?
Protozoa are eukaryotes and unicellular
organisms, and they have metabolic processes similar to those of human host
than procaryotic bacterial pathogens. They are single celled beings, which
also cause diseases in humans, which can be mild to life threatening.
Protozoan Infections or Diseases
The most common diseases caused by
protozoa are
- Malaria
- Amoebiasis
- Sleeping Sickness
- Toxoplasmosis
- Trichomoniasis
- Pneumocystis Carinii Pneumonia (PCP) etc.
Anti Protozoal Agents or Drugs
Antiprotozoal agents or
antiprotozoal drugs is a class of pharmaceuticals used in treatment of
protozoan infection. The most populat anti protozoal drugs are as follows:
- Metronidazole
- Eflornithine
- Furazolidone
- Hydroxychloroquine
- Iodoquinol
- Yodoquinol
- Pentamidine
- Melarsoprol
- Metronidazole
- Ornidazole
- Paromomycin sulfate
- Pyrimethamine
- Tinidazole
Recommended Dosage of Antiprotozoa Drugs
As antiprotozoa drug is a
presciption drug, all doses should be taken as per doctor's instructions.
The recommended dosage of this drug depends on its type, its strength, and
the medical problem for which it is being used.
Side Effects
Some serious side effects while taking this medicine
are fever, cold, chills, redness, swelling, or inflammation, unusual
bruising orbleeding, blood in urine or stools, black, tarry stools, red
spots on the skin, unusual tiredness or weakness. Consult your doctor if you
have any of these symptoms while taking this drug. Some common side effects
are like nausea, vomitting, diarrhea, stomach pain, which go away as the
body adjusts to the drug and do not require medical treatment.