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paromomycin (Humatin)

 

Classes: Antiparasitic Agents

Dosing and uses of Humatin (paromomycin)

 

Adult dosage forms and strengths

capsule

  • 250mg

 

Intestinal Amebiasis (E. Histolytica)

25-35 mg/kg/day PO divided q6hr for 5-10 days

Effective in acute and chronic but not extraintestinaL

 

Hepatic Coma (Adjunctive)

4 g PO qDay in divided doses for 5-6 days

 

Diantomoeba Fragilis

20-30 mg/kg/day PO divided q8hr

 

Tapeworm (T. saginata/T. solium/D. latum/D. caninum)

11 mg/kg PO divided q15min for 4 doses

 

Dwarf Tapeworm

45 mg/kg/dose PO qDay for 5-7 days

 

Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (Orphan)

Treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis (Old World and New World)

Sponsor

  • The Surgeon General, Dept. of the Army; USAMRMC; 504 Scott Street; Ft. Detrick; MD

 

Pediatric dosage forms and strengths

capsule

  • 250mg

 

E. Histolytica

25-35 mg/kg/day divided q8hr PO for 7 days Or

750 mg/m²/day divided q6hr PO for 5 days

 

Dientamoeba Fragilis

25-30 mg/kg/day PO divided q8hr for 7 days

 

Intestinal Amebiasis

25-35 mg/kg/day PO divided q8hr for 5-10 days

 

Tapeworm (Hymenolepis nana)

45 mg/kg PO qDay for 5-7 days

 

Tapeworm (T. saginata/T. solium/D. latum/D. caninum)

11 mg/kg PO divided q15min for 4 doses

 

Dwarf Tapeworm

45 mg/kg/dose PO qDay for 5-7 days

 

Humatin (paromomycin) adverse (side) effects

1-10%

Diarrhea

Abdominal cramps

Nausea

Vomiting

Heartburn

 

<1%

Headache

Vertigo

Exanthema

Rash

Pruritus

Steatorrhea

Secondary enterocolitis

Eosinophilia

Ototoxicity

 

Warnings

Contraindications

Hypersensitivity, intestinal obstruction

 

Cautions

Prolonged treatment may result in fungal or bacterial superinfection

Caution in renal impairment or patients with ulcerative bowel lesions

 

Pregnancy and lactation

Pregnancy category: C

Lactation: does not enter breast milk

 

Pregnancy categories

A: Generally acceptable. Controlled studies in pregnant women show no evidence of fetal risk.

B: May be acceptable. Either animal studies show no risk but human studies not available or animal studies showed minor risks and human studies done and showed no risk.

C: Use with caution if benefits outweigh risks. Animal studies show risk and human studies not available or neither animal nor human studies done.

D: Use in LIFE-THREATENING emergencies when no safer drug available. Positive evidence of human fetal risk.

X: Do not use in pregnancy. Risks involved outweigh potential benefits. Safer alternatives exist.

NA: Information not available.

 

Pharmacology of Humatin (paromomycin)

Mechanism of action

Aminoglycoside; interferes with bacterial protein synthesis by binding to 30S ribosomal subunits; has antibacterial against pathogenic organisms in the GI tract

 

Pharmacokinetics

Absorption: Poor

Excretion: Feces (100% as unchanged drug)