Description

Nalidixic acid is a synthetic narrow spectrum antibacterial. It is bacteriostatic or bactericidal depending on the concentration. Nalidixic acid appears to act by inhibiting bacterial DNA synthesis, possibly by interfering with DNA polymerization. It is rapidly and completely absorbed from the G.I. Tract. Parent drug and active metabolites are distributed to most tissues specially to the kidney and to the urine. During normal renal function, half-life is 1.1 to 2.5 hours and when renal function is impaired, half-life is up to 21 hours. It is rapidly and almost completely excreted within 24 hours.

Concomitant use of Nalidixic acid with melphalan there have been reports of death froms severe blood containing diarrhoea caused by hemorrhagic ulcerative colitis. Probenecids inhibits tubular secretion of nalidixic acid and may therefore elevate serum concentration, possibly enhancing toxicity. Chlorpromazine and Perphenazine have been shown to potentiate the effect of Nalidixic Acid in vitro.

Nalidixic acid is contraindicated in the following cases- Infants under 3 months, epilepsy, CNS lesions.

Gastro-intestinal disturbances including nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, haemolysis in G6PD deficiency, allergic reaction including urticaria, rashes, fever, arthralgia, eosinophilia, also myalgia, muscle weakness, phototoxicity, jaundice, visual disturbances and convulsions.

There is the possibility that it may cause cartilage damage and as it is a DNA-gyrase inhibitor there is a possibility of causing DNA damage too. Nalidixic acid is excreted in breast milk and there is a report of hemolytic anaemia in a breast feed child of an azotemic mother.

Risk-benefit must be considered during the first trimester of pregnancy and during breast feeding, impaired renal or hepatic function.

Anti-diarrhoeal Antimicrobial drugs, Other Anti-protozoals, Systemic Urinary Anti- infective