Furazolidone (3-(5-Nitrofurfurylideneamino)-2-oxazolidinone) (CAS: 67-45-8)

CAS: 67-45-8
Molecular formula: C8H7N3O5
Molecular weight: 225.16

Specification: BP 2009
Appearance: Pale yellow crystalline powder
Assay: 97.0%-103.0%
Acid degree: 4.5-7.0
Loss on drying: ≤0.5%
Residue on ignition: ≤0.1%
5-nitrofurfural diacetate: ≤0.1%

Application: Anti- bacterial , anti-fungal antigens biological.

Furazolidone has been used in human and veterinary medicine. 

Use in humans

In humans it has used to treat diarrhoea and enteritis caused by bacteria or protozoan infections. It has been used to treat traveler’s diarrhoea, cholera and bacteremic salmonellosis. Use in treating Helicobacter pylori infections has also been proposed.

Furazolidone is also used for giardiasis (due to Giardia lamblia), though it is not a first line treatment.

As for all medicines the most recent local recommendations for its use should be always be followed. The usual dose is:

Adult: 100 mg 4 times daily. Usual duration: 2-5 days, up to 7 days in some patients or 10 days for giardiasis.

Child: 1.25 mg/kg 4 times daily, usually given for 2-5 days or up to 10 days for giardiasis.

Use in animals

As a veterinary medicine, furazolidone has been used with some success to treat salmonids for Myxobolus cerebralis infections.

It has also been used in aquaculture.

Since furazolidone is a nitrofuran antibiotic, its use in food animals is currently prohibited by the FDA under the Animal Medicinal Drug Use Clarification Act, 1994.

Use in laboratory

It is used to differentiate micrococci and staphylococci.