Secnidazole is rapidly absorbed following oral administration. The maximum serum level is obtained after 3 hours following oral administration of 2 gm Secnidazole. The plasma elimination half-life is about 20 hours. The majority of Secnidazole is eliminated via urine (50% of the ingested dose is excreted within 120 hours). The pharmacokinetic profile of Secnidazole gives it the longest half-life of second-generation nitroimidazoles, ensuring 72-hour therapeutic blood levels from a 2 gm single dose.
Secnidazole is contra-indicated for those patients who are hypersensitive to imidazole derivatives.
The clinical studies have shown that Secnidazole is characterized by very good tolerance and no serious adverse reactions have been reported to date. The following side-effects may be observed with Secnidazole as with all nitroimidazole derivatives & are rarely serious:
Most frequent side-effects: Gastrointestinal disturbances, nausea, epigastric pain, metallic taste, glossitis, stomatitis.
Occasional side effects: Urticaria, moderate leukopenia which is reversible on treatment discontinuation.
Rare side-effects: Vertigo, ataxia and motor incoordination, paresthesia, peripheral neuropathy. With Secnidazole, gastrointestinal disorders e.g. nausea, vomiting, eoigastric pain, etc., have been reported in very rare cases.
Secnidazole may be prescribed in pregnancy after the first trimester. As with other similar drugs, Secnidazole should not be administered during the first trimester of pregnancy or during lactation because Secnidazoleis found in the placenta and breast milk.
Patients should be advised not to take alcohol during treatment with Secnidazole (because of the possibility of antabuse effect). Administration of Secnidazoleshould be avoided to patients with a history of blood dyscrasia.
