Chloramphenicol

Warning

• Serious and fatal blood dyscrasias (aplastic anemia, hypoplastic anemia, thrombocytopenia, granulocytopenia) can occur after short-term or prolonged therapy. Chloramphenicol-associated aplastic anemia (terminating in leukemia) has been reported. (See Hematologic Effects under Cautions.)

• Must be used only for treatment of serious infections when other potentially less hazardous anti-infectives cannot be used or would be ineffective. Must not be used for trivial infections or when not indicated (e.g., for colds, influenza, throat infections, prophylaxis).

• It is essential that adequate blood studies be performed during chloramphenicol treatment. While such studies may detect early peripheral blood changes (e.g., leukopenia, reticulocytopenia, granulocytopenia) before they become irreversible, such studies cannot be relied on to detect bone marrow depression prior to development of aplastic anemia.

• To facilitate appropriate blood studies and clinical observation, patient should be hospitalized while receiving chloramphenicol.