Paromomycin

Paromomycin is an antibiotic, which is licensed in the United States for treating intestinal amoebiasis and giardiasis. It is not marketed in the United Kingdom, but is available for use on a named-patient basis.

Paromomycin is currently being studied as a treatment for cryptosporidiosis, alone or in combination with other drugs, with some success.1 When taken as tablets, the drug only acts in the gut where its effects are most needed. It is not absorbed into the bloodstream, which means that it will not affect Cryptosporidium in the liver. Most doctors begin with an initial dose of 500mg four times daily for 14 to 30 days, and then prescribe a maintenance dose of 500mg twice daily indefinitely.

Paromomycin’s side-effects include nausea, reversible kidney damage and possible hearing loss. A case of inflammation of the pancreas has also been reported.2

Paromomycin is manufactured by Pharmacia & Upjohn under the tradename Humatin.

References

  1. White AC et al. Paromomycin for cryptosporidiosis in AIDS: a prospective double-blind trial. J Infect Dis 170: 419-424, 1994
  2. Tan WW et al. Paromomycin-associated pancreatitis in HIV-related cryptosporidiosis. Ann Pharmacother 29: 22-24, 1995

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