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Iodoquinol Brand Names- Diodoquin | Yodoxin
What is Iodoquinol (diiodohydroxyquin diiodohydroxyquinoline)
Iodoquinol (diiodohydroxyquin diiodohydroxyquinoline) is an oral amebicide used to treat patients infected with protozoa, especially Entamoeba histolytica. Iodoquinol is effective in killing intraluminal parasites in asymptomatic cyst passers and symptomatic patients, and can be used alone in mild cases or in asymptomatic carriers (noninvasive or luminal amebiasis).
In more severe cases, iodoquinol should be used after systemically absorbed amebicide therapy (e.g., metronidazole) is completed.
Entamoeba histolytica is not endemic in the United States, but travelers to high-risk areas where amebiasis is endemic may acquire the infection during their travel. The incidence of amebiasis has increased in the southwestern United States most likely due to emigration from Mexico.
Iodoquinol may also have some antibacterial and antifungal properties. However, due to the potential for serious side effects with longer durations of use, controversies exist concerning iodoquinol for off-label uses such as the treatment of Blastocystis hominis infection, pulmonary aspergillosis, and acrodermatitis enteropathica (a rare, potentially fatal inherited zinc deficiency disorder).
Iodoquinol has also been applied topically treat dermatitis and skin infections
The FDA approved iodoquinol in 1953.
Indications
- amebiasis
- aspergillosis
- Balantidium coli
- Blastocystis hominis
- Dientamoeba fragilis
- Entamoeba histolytica
- zinc deficiency
Side Effects
- abdominal pain
- acneiform rash
- bullous rash
- chills
- diarrhea
- fever
- goiter
- hair discoloration
- headache
- hyperthyroidism
- hypothyroidism
- iododerma
- nail discoloration
- nausea
- optic atrophy
- optic neuritis
- peripheral neuropathy
- pruritus
- pruritus ani
- seizures
- skin discoloration
- urticaria
- vertigo
- vomiting
Monitoring Parameters
- ophthalmologic exam
- stool exam
- thyroid function tests (TFTs)
Contraindications
- breast-feeding
- diarrhea
- geriatric
- goiter
- Graves’ disease
- hepatic disease
- hyperthyroidism
- hypothyroidism
- infants
- iodine hypersensitivity
- iodoquinol hypersensitivity
- optic neuritis
- peripheral neuropathy
- pregnancy
- primaquine hypersensitivity
- renal disease
- renal impairment
- thyroid disease
- visual disturbance
Interactions
- Bortezomib
- Iodine; Potassium Iodide, KI
- Methimazole
- Potassium Iodide, KI
- Propylthiouracil, PTU
- Thyroid hormones
- Zalcitabine, ddC
