Composition
Inj: Per 5 ml amp: Meglumine antimoniate 1.5 gm (equiv to 0.405 gm of antimony); excipients: potassium disulphite 0.008 gm, anhydrous sodium sulphite 0,0009 gm.
Indications & Dosage
Treatment of visceral leishmaniasis (Kala-azar): BY IM INJ: Adults: 20 mg/kg per day (i.e. 75 mg/kg per day of meglumine antimony) without exceeding 850 mg, for 20 consecutive days. Treatment must be continued until the disappearance of parasites from splenic needle aspirates obtained at 14 days intervals. Treatment of Cutaneous leishmaniasis: Adults: Local treatment: Injection of 1 to 3 ml at the base of the lesion, repeated once (or twice if no apparent result is obtained) at 1 or 2 day intervals. With the exception of forms due to L Braziliensis and L. Amazonensis: Lesions should be envisaged only at the early stage. BY IM INJ: Systemic treatment: 10 to 20 mg/kg per day, (i.e., 37 to 75 mg/kg per day of meglumine antimony) until clinical cure or disappearance of parasites from dermal liquid collected by scarification, then for a few extra days. Cutaneous leishmaniasis of L. Braziliensis and L. amazonensis: BY IM INJ: Adults: 20 mg/kg per day (i.e., 75 mg/kg per day of meglumine antimony) until cure and for at least 4 weeks for L Braziliensis and for several months for L. Amazonensis.
Precautions
Monitor ECG tracing, hepatic and renal function tests throughout the treatment period (risk of intolerance to antimony). Iron or other deficiencies must be corrected before starting treatment. A high protein content diet should also be followed during the treatment.
Pregnancy
Use only if potential benefit outweighs risk.
Lactation
Caution advised
Side Effects
Headache, general malaise, abdominal pain, difficult and uneasy breathing, skin rash, facial oedema, transient febrile reaction accompanied by chills or sensation of faintness with sweating, cough and vomiting may occur at the start of treatment. Rare: Pancreatitis, impaired liver and kidney function, changes in ECG reversible, QT interval prolongation precede the onset of severe arrhythmia.