Eflornithine Brand Name– Vaniqa
What is Eflornithine
Eflornithine (or DFMO), is used topically to reduce unwanted facial hair in women, and parenterally to treat protozoal infections.
In the US, the drug is only commercially available as the topical cream. The intravenous formulation of eflornithine has been used to treat African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness) as well as Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP).
Parenteral eflornithine is only available from the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Indications
- African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness)
- Giardia lamblia
- hirsutism
- Pneumocystis jirovecii (formerly Pneumocystis carinii)
- Trichomonas vaginalis
- Trypanosoma brucei gambiense
- Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense
- Trypanosoma sp.
Side Effects
- abdominal pain
- acne vulgaris
- alopecia
- anemia
- anorexia
- cheilitis
- contact dermatitis
- dizziness
- dyspepsia
- eosinophilia
- erythema
- folliculitis
- headache
- hearing loss
- leukopenia
- nausea
- pancytopenia
- pruritus
- rash
- seizures
- skin irritation
- thrombocytopenia
- vertigo
- xerosis
Monitoring Parameters
- arterial blood gases (ABGs)
- audiometry
- CBC
- cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) assessment
- chest x-ray
- platelet count
- serum creatinine/BUN
- WBC
Contraindications
- anemia
- bone marrow suppression
- breast-feeding
- children
- hearing impairment
- hematological disease
- human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection
- infants
- infection
- leukopenia
- neonates
- ophthalmic administration
- pregnancy
- renal failure
- renal impairment
- seizure disorder
- thrombocytopenia
- vaginal administration
Interactions
There are no drug interactions associated with Eflornithine products.
