Eflornithine (Injection)
Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Feb 5, 2022.
Pharmacologic Class: Ornithine Decarboxylase Inhibitor
Uses for eflornithine
Eflornithine is used to treat African sleeping sickness, a disease caused by protozoa (tiny one-celled animals).
Eflornithine is available only with your doctor's prescription.
Before using eflornithine
In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For eflornithine, the following should be considered:
Allergies
Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to eflornithine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.
Pediatric
Studies on eflornithine have been done only in adult patients, and there is no specific information comparing use of eflornithine in children with use in other age groups.
Geriatric
Many medicines have not been studied specifically in older people. Therefore, it may not be known whether they work exactly the same way they do in younger adults or if they cause different side effects or problems in older people. There is no specific information comparing use of eflornithine in the elderly with use in other age groups.
Breastfeeding
There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.
Interactions with medicines
Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. Tell your healthcare professional if you are taking any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine.
Interactions with food/tobacco/alcohol
Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.
Other medical problems
The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of eflornithine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:
- Anemia or other blood problems—Eflornithine may cause blood problems, making the problems you already have worse
- Hearing loss—Long-term treatment with eflornithine may increase your chance of hearing loss
- Kidney disease—Patients with kidney disease may have an increased chance of side effects
Proper use of eflornithine
To ensure the best response, eflornithine must be given for the full time of treatment. Also, eflornithine works best when there is a constant amount in the blood. To help keep the amount constant, eflornithine must be given on a regular schedule.
Dosing
The dose of eflornithine will be differen...
