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Isophenicol: Full Drug Profile

Medically reviewed by Min Clinic Staff | Updated: January 2026

Isophenicol - General Information

An antibiotic first isolated from cultures of Streptomyces venequelae in 1947 but now produced synthetically. It has a relatively simple structure and was the first broad-spectrum antibiotic to be discovered. It acts by interfering with bacterial protein synthesis and is mainly bacteriostatic. (From Martindale, The Extra Pharmacopoeia, 29th ed, p106)

 

Pharmacology of Isophenicol

Isophenicol is a broad-spectrum antibiotic that was derived from the bacterium Streptomyces venezuelae and is now produced synthetically. Isophenicol is effective against a wide variety of microorganisms, but due to serious side-effects (e.g., damage to the bone marrow, including aplastic anemia) in humans, it is usually reserved for the treatment of serious and life-threatening infections (e.g., typhoid fever). Isophenicol is bacteriostatic but may be bactericidal in high concentrations or when used against highly susceptible organisms. Isophenicol stops bacterial growth by binding to the bacterial ribosome (blocking peptidyl transferase) and inhibiting protein synthesis.

 

Additional information about Isophenicol

Isophenicol Indication: Used in treatment of cholera, as it destroys the vibrios and decreases the diarrhea. It is effective against tetracycline-resistant vibrios. It is also used in eye drops or ointment to treat bacterial conjunctivitis. Mechanism Of Action: Isophenicol is lipid-soluble, allowing it to diffuse through the bacterial cell membrane. It then reversibly binds to the 50S subunit of bacterial ribosomes where transfer of amino acids to growing peptide chains is prevented (perhaps by suppression of peptidyl transferase activity), thus inhibiting peptide bond formation and subsequent protein synthesis. Drug Interactions: Acetohexamide The agent increases the effect of sulfonylureaAnisindione Increases the anticoagulant effectChlorpropamide The agent increases the effect of sulfonylureaCyclosporine Increases the effect of cyclosporineDicumarol Increases the anticoagulant effectEthotoin Increases phenytoin, modifies chloramphenicolFosphenytoin Increases phenytoin, modifies chloramphenicolGliclazide The agent increases the effect of sulfonylureaGlipizide The agent increases the effect of sulfonylureaGlisoxepide The agent increases the effect of sulfonylureaGlibenclamide The agent increases the effect of sulfonylureaGlycodiazine The agent increases the effect of sulfonylureaMephenytoin Increases phenytoin, modifies chloramphenicolAcenocoumarol Increases the anticoagulant effectPhenytoin Increases phenytoin, modifies chloramphenicolRifampin Rifampin decreases the effect of chloramphenicolTacrolimus Increases tacrolimus levelsTolazamide The agent increases the effect of sulfonylureaTolbutamide The agent increases the effect of sulfonylureaWarfarin Increases the anticoagulant effect Food Interactions: Take on an empty stomach. Generic Name: Chloramphenicol Synonyms: CAF; CAM; CAP; Chloramphenicole; Chloramfenikol; Chloroamphenicol; Cloroamfenicolo; CPh; D-Chloramphenicol Drug Category: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Protein Synthesis Inhibitors Drug Type: Small Molecule; Approved Other Brand Names containing Chloramphenicol: Ak-Chlor Ophthalmic Ointment; Ak-Chlor Ophthalmic Solution; Ak-chlor; Alficetyn; Ambofen; Amphenicol; Amphicol; Amseclor; Anacetin; Aquamycetin; Austracil; Austracol; Biocetin; Biophenicol; Catilan; Chemicetin; Chemicetina; Chlomin; Chlomycol; Chlora-Tabs; Chloracol Ophthalmic Solution; Chloramex; Chloramficin; Chloramfilin; Chloramsaar; Chlorasol; Chloricol; Chlornitromycin; Chloro-25 vetag; Chlorocaps; Chlorocid; Chlorocid S; Chlorocide; Chlorocidin C; Chlorocidin C tetran; Chlorocol; Chlorofair; Chlorofair Ophthalmic Ointment; Chlorofair Ophthalmic Solution; Chloroject L; Chloromax; Chloromycetin Hydrocortisone; Chloromycetin Ophthalmic Ointment; Chloromycetin Palmitate; Chloromycetin for Ophthalmic Solution; Chloromycetny; Chloromyxin; Chloronitrin; Chloroptic; Chloroptic Ophthalmic Solution; Chloroptic S.O.P.; Chloroptic-P S.O.P.; Chlorovules; Cidocetine; Ciplamycetin; Cloramfen; Cloramficin; Cloramicol; Cloramidina; Clorocyn; Cloromisan; Clorosintex; Comycetin; Cylphenicol; Desphen; Detreomycin; Detreomycine; Dextromycetin; Doctamicina; Econochlor; Econochlor Ophthalmic Ointment; Econochlor Ophthalmic Solution; Elase-Chloromycetin; Embacetin; Emetren; Enicol; Enteromycetin; Erbaplast; Ertilen; Farmicetina; Farmitcetina; Fenicol; Fenicol Ophthalmic Ointment; Globenicol; Glorous; Halomycetin; Hortfenicol; I-Chlor Ophthalmic Solution; Intramycetin; Isicetin; Ismicetina; Isophenicol; Isopto fenicol; Juvamycetin; Kamaver; Kemicetina; Kemicetine; Klorita; Klorocid S; Leukamycin; Leukomyan; Leukomycin; Levomicetina; Levomitsetin; Levomycetin; Loromisan; Loromisin; Mastiphen; Mediamycetine; Medichol; Micloretin; Micochlorine; Micoclorina; Microcetina; Mychel; Mychel-Vet; Mycinol; Normimycin V; Novochlorocap; Novomycetin; Novophenicol; Ocu-Chlor Ophthalmic Ointment; Ocu-Chlor Ophthalmic Solution; Oftalent; Oleomycetin; Opclor; Opelor; Ophtho-Chloram Ophthalmic Solution; Ophthochlor; Ophthochlor Ophthalmic Solution; Ophthoclor; Ophthocort; Ophtochlor; Optomycin; Otachron; Otophen; Pantovernil; Paraxin; Pentamycetin; Pentamycetin Ophthalmic Ointment; Pentamycetin Ophthalmic Solution; Quemicetina; Rivomycin; Romphenil; Ronphenil; Septicol; Sificetina; Sintomicetina; Sintomicetine R; Sno-Phenicol; Sopamycetin Ophthalmic Ointment; Sopamycetin Ophthalmic Solution; Spectro-Chlor Ophthalmic Ointment; Spectro-Chlor Ophthalmic Solution; Stanomycetin; Synthomycetin; Synthomycetine; Synthomycine; Tega-Cetin; Tevcocin; Tevcosin; Tifomycin; Tifomycine; Tiromycetin; Treomicetina; Tyfomycine; Unimycetin; Veticol; Viceton; Absorption: Rapidly and completely absorbed from gastrointestinal tract following oral administration (bioavailability 80%). Well absorbed following intramuscular administration (bioavailability 70%). Intraocular and some systemic absorption also occurs after topical application to the eye. Toxicity (Overdose): Oral, mouse: LD50 = 1500 mg/kg; Oral, rat: LD50 = 2500 mg/kg. Toxic reactions including fatalities have occurred in the premature and newborn; the signs and symptoms associated with these reactions have been referred to as the gray syndrome. Symptoms include (in order of appearance) abdominal distension with or without emesis, progressive pallid cyanosis, vasomotor collapse frequently accompanied by irregular respiration, and death within a few hours of onset of these symptoms. Protein Binding: Plasma protein binding is 50-60% in adults and 32% is premature neonates. Biotransformation: Hepatic, with 90% conjugated to inactive glucuronide. Half Life: Half-life in adults with normal hepatic and renal function is 1.5 - 3.5 hours. In patients with impaired renal function half-life is 3 - 4 hours. In patients with severely impaired hepatic function half-life is 4.6 - 11.6 hours. Half-life in children 1 month to 16 years old is 3 - 6.5 hours, while half-life in infants 1 to 2 days old is 24 hours or longer and is highly variable, especially in low birth-weight infants. Dosage Forms of Isophenicol: Powder, for solution IntramuscularSolution / drops OphthalmicOintment OphthalmicSolution OphthalmicLiquid Ophthalmic Chemical IUPAC Name: 2,2-dichloro-N-[1,3-dihydroxy-1-(4-nitrophenyl)propan-2-yl]acetamide Chemical Formula: C11H12Cl2N2O5 Chloramphenicol on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chloramphenicol Organisms Affected: Enteric bacteria and other eubacteria