Furazolidone and Sodium Ferric Gluconate

• Generic Name: furazolidone
• Dosage Forms: n.a.
• Other Brand Names:

Furazolidone is used to treat bacterial and protozoal infections. It works by killing bacteria and protozoa (tiny, one-celled animals). Some protozoa are parasites that can cause many different kinds of infections in the body.

Furazolidone is taken by mouth. It works inside the intestinal tract to treat cholera, colitis, and/or diarrhea caused by bacteria, and giardiasis. Furazolidone is sometimes given with other medicines for bacterial infections.

Furazolidone may cause some serious side effects when taken with certain foods, beverages, or other medicines. Check with your health care professional for a list of products that should be avoided.

Furazolidone is available only with your doctor's prescription.

• Generic Name: sodium ferric gluconate complex
• Dosage Forms: n.a.
• Other Brand Names: Ferrlecit, Nulecit

Treatment of iron deficiency anemia in adult and pediatric hemodialysis patients receiving epoetin alfa therapy.

In patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) on hemodialysis, IV iron superior to orally administered iron in increasing hemoglobin concentrations and/or minimizing dosage of an erythropoiesis-stimulating agent (ESA) (e.g., epoetin alfa); the National Kidney Foundation Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative (NKF-KDOQI) guidelines state that the IV route of iron administration is preferred in such patients.

Limited data suggest that iron sucrose and sodium ferric gluconate injections may be associated less frequently with serious adverse effects (e.g., hypersensitivity reactions) compared with iron dextran injection.

Safety and efficacy not established for the prevention and/or treatment of iron deficiency anemia not associated with CKD (e.g., HIV- or cancer-related anemia).