Common use of Furazolidone
Furazolidone is an older nitrofuran antimicrobial used historically to treat infectious diarrhea, traveler’s diarrhea caused by susceptible bacteria, and protozoal infections such as giardiasis. In the past, it was included in some Helicobacter pylori regimens where resistance to other agents was high. Its spectrum covers select Gram-negative and Gram-positive organisms, as well as Giardia lamblia. Due to safety concerns and the advent of newer, better-tolerated drugs, furazolidone has largely been replaced by alternatives like metronidazole, tinidazole, azithromycin, rifaximin, or fluoroquinolones (depending on local resistance patterns and indications).
It is important to note that furazolidone is not FDA-approved in the United States and is unavailable in many countries. Any use should follow local regulations and current clinical guidelines, with clinicians typically reserving it for specific scenarios where benefits may outweigh risks and where susceptibility data support its use.
How Furazolidone works (mechanism)
Furazolidone is a nitrofuran derivative that undergoes enzymatic reduction inside microbial cells to generate reactive intermediates. These intermediates damage bacterial DNA and disrupt essential metabolic processes, leading to bactericidal or bacteriostatic effects depending on the organism and concentration. Uniquely, furazolidone also functions as a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI), which is unrelated to its antimicrobial action but clinically significant: MAOI activity can precipitate hypertensive crises with tyramine-rich foods and trigger serious drug–drug interactions, including serotonin syndrome when combined with serotonergic agents.
Furazolidone dosage and direction (educational overview)
Dosing varies by indication, local guidelines, product formulation, and patient factors. Because furazolidone is not FDA-approved in the U.S. and is restricted in many countries, do not self-medicate. Discuss any use with a licensed clinician. Historically reported regimens (for educational context) included adult doses of 100 mg four times daily for 5–7 days for certain bacterial diarrheas and 7–10 days for giardiasis. Pediatric dosing where used historically was often weight-based (for example, total daily dose around 7.5 mg/kg/day divided into four doses), but ranges vary and require clinician oversight. Modern therapy frequently favors alternative agents with improved safety profiles.
General administration advice has included taking furazolidone with food to reduce stomach upset and adhering strictly to the full course once prescribed. Because of MAOI effects, patients are instructed to avoid high-tyramine foods and to review all concomitant medications with a pharmacist or clinician before starting therapy and for a period after completion (commonly two weeks) to minimize interaction risks.
Precautions and warnings
Furazolidone’s MAOI activity is the core driver of its precaution profile. Patients must avoid tyramine-rich foods and beverages (such as aged cheeses, cured or fermented meats, soy sauce, miso, tempeh, sauerkraut, kimchi, Marmite/yeast extracts, certain beers, and some red wines) during treatment and for at least 14 days after the last dose to reduce the risk of hypertensive crisis. Concomitant serotonergic or sympathomimetic drugs can cause life-threatening reactions and should generally be avoided.
People with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency may be at increased risk of hemolytic anemia with nitrofuran derivatives. If a clinician considers furazolidone in a setting where it is available, they should evaluate G6PD status when relevant. Patients with a history of severe drug allergies, hepatic impairment, uncontrolled hypertension, or certain psychiatric conditions may require additional caution. Alcohol should be avoided during therapy and for several days after due to the potential for a disulfiram-like reaction (flushing, nausea, vomiting, tachycardia).
Pregnancy and breastfeeding: Furazolidone has limited contemporary safety data in pregnancy and lactation and is generally avoided when alternatives exist. Discuss risks and benefits with a qualified clinician; safer, guideline-supported options are usually preferred for pregnant or breastfeeding individuals.
Contraindications
Contraindications may include hypersensitivity to furazolidone or other nitrofurans; concurrent use with other MAO inhibitors; recent use of serotonergic agents where an appropriate washout has not occurred; and use with known tyramine sensitivity or inability to adhere to dietary restrictions. Severe hepatic dysfunction, a history of hypertensive crisis related to MAOIs, or catecholamine-secreting tumors (e.g., pheochromocytoma) also warrant avoidance. Individuals with G6PD deficiency are at heightened risk for hemolysis and generally should not receive nitrofuran derivatives unless a specialist deems benefits to outweigh risks and close monitoring is in place.
Possible side effects of Furazolidone
Common adverse effects include nausea, vomiting, abdominal discomfort, decreased appetite, and diarrhea. Headache, dizziness, and rash or pruritus may occur. Because of its MAOI properties, a sudden severe headache, chest pain, palpitations, neck stiffness, shortness of breath, or marked blood pressure elevation require urgent medical evaluation. Signs of serotonin syndrome (agitation, confusion, fever, sweating, tremor, muscle rigidity, diarrhea) can be life-threatening and demand immediate care if serotonergic agents have been co-administered.
Less common but serious events can include hemolytic anemia (especially in G6PD deficiency), hepatotoxicity, peripheral neuropathy, or hypersensitivity reactions, including angioedema or anaphylaxis. Any jaundice, dark urine, light-colored stools, persistent fatigue, bruising, or bleeding should prompt urgent evaluation. As with other nitrofuran agents, long-term or repeated courses may raise the risk of rare pulmonary or neurological toxicities; such use is not typical with modern practice and should be supervised closely.
Furazolidone interactions: food, alcohol, and drugs
Food interactions: Avoid tyramine-rich foods during treatment and for 14 days afterward to reduce the risk of hypertensive crisis. Examples include aged cheeses, cured or fermented meats, fish sauces, soy products (soy sauce, miso, tempeh), fermented vegetables (sauerkraut, kimchi), yeast extracts, some beers (especially draft), and certain red wines.
Alcohol: Avoid alcohol during therapy and for several days after due to potential disulfiram-like reactions (flushing, throbbing headache, nausea/vomiting, tachycardia) and additive blood pressure effects.
Drug interactions: Due to MAOI effects, combining furazolidone with serotonergic agents (SSRIs like fluoxetine/sertraline, SNRIs like venlafaxine/duloxetine, TCAs, MAOIs, mirtazapine, buspirone, tramadol, meperidine, methadone, linezolid, methylene blue, triptans, St. John’s wort, and dextromethorphan) can precipitate serotonin syndrome and is generally contraindicated. Sympathomimetics (pseudoephedrine, phenylephrine, ephedrine), many stimulant medications, and certain weight-loss supplements can trigger dangerous hypertension with MAOIs and should be avoided. Always give your clinician and pharmacist a complete medication and supplement list, including over-the-counter remedies and herbal products.
Missed dose
If a dose is missed, take it as soon as you remember unless it is close to the time for the next dose. If it is nearly time for your next scheduled dose, skip the missed dose and resume your regular dosing schedule. Do not double up to make up for a missed dose. Because interaction risks are significant, do not restart or stop furazolidone without discussing it with a clinician, and continue to follow dietary and drug-interaction precautions during therapy and for two weeks after the last dose.
Overdose
Suspected overdose is a medical emergency. Call local emergency services or your poison control center immediately. Symptoms may include severe nausea and vomiting, agitation, confusion, tremor, fever, rapid heartbeat, severe hypertension or hypotension, seizures, and signs of serotonin syndrome. Management is supportive, with close monitoring of airway, breathing, circulation, temperature, and blood pressure. Activated charcoal may be considered if presentation is early and the airway is protected. Because of MAOI properties, avoid agents that can worsen hypertension or serotonergic toxicity unless directed by specialists.
Storage and handling
Store furazolidone tablets or suspensions in a tightly closed, child-resistant container at controlled room temperature (generally 20–25°C or 68–77°F), protected from excess heat, moisture, and light. Do not store in a bathroom. Keep out of reach of children and pets. Do not use past the printed expiration date, and discard any unused reconstituted suspension according to the product’s instructions. Never share antibiotics with others, and return or dispose of leftover medication via approved take-back programs where available.
U.S. sale and prescription policy: safe access through HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital of Las Vegas
In the United States, furazolidone is not FDA-approved and is not marketed domestically. U.S. law requires a valid prescription for dispensing prescription medications and imposes strict standards on sourcing and quality. HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital of Las Vegas operates within these regulations. While many customers search for ways to “buy furazolidone without a prescription,” our pharmacy provides a legal, structured alternative: a pharmacist-guided intake that, when clinically appropriate and lawful in your jurisdiction, routes your case to a licensed prescriber for evaluation. If a prescriber determines that furazolidone (or a safer, guideline-recommended alternative) is appropriate, a valid prescription is issued before any dispensing or fulfillment.
This means you do not need to bring a traditional paper prescription from an outside clinic—your order is supported by an integrated, compliant clinician review. Where furazolidone is unavailable or not recommended, we help identify evidence-based alternatives (for example, metronidazole or tinidazole for giardiasis, rifaximin or azithromycin for certain traveler’s diarrhea scenarios, as guided by local resistance patterns). Our team prioritizes medication quality, patient safety, and regulatory compliance, with transparent sourcing, secure checkout, and responsive support. If the medication must be fulfilled through international channels, we observe all applicable laws and will only proceed when it is lawful and clinically justified.
Important: Because furazolidone has MAOI-related risks and significant interactions, a licensed clinician’s oversight is essential. Avoid unverified online sellers that offer prescription drugs without clinician review; counterfeit or substandard products can be dangerous. HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital of Las Vegas’s structured process is designed to protect you—ensuring that the right therapy, dosage, and interaction checks are applied before any medicine reaches you.
