Nifurtimox/eflornithine explained

Type:	combo
Component1:	Nifurtimox
Class1:	antiparasitic agent
Component2:	Eflornithine
Class2:	antiparasitic agent

Nifurtimox/eflornithine is a combination of two antiparasitic drugs, nifurtimox and eflornithine, used in the treatment of African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness).^{[1] [2]} It is included in the World Health Organization's Model List of Essential Medicines.^[3]

A treatment regimen known as nifurtimox-eflornithine combination treatment (NECT) is used in second stage gambiense African trypanosomiasis throughout Africa where the disease is endemic.^[4] The regimen involves slow infusion of 400 mg of eflornithine every 12 hours for 7 days combined with 15 mg/kg of nifurtimox orally three times a day for 10 days.^[4]

Notes and References

1. Priotto G, Kasparian S, Mutombo W, Ngouama D, Ghorashian S, Arnold U, Ghabri S, Baudin E, Buard V, Kazadi-Kyanza S, Ilunga M, Mutangala W, Pohlig G, Schmid C, Karunakara U, Torreele E, Kande V . 32757305 . 6 . Nifurtimox-eflornithine combination therapy for second-stage African Trypanosoma brucei gambiense trypanosomiasis: a multicentre, randomised, phase III, non-inferiority trial . Lancet . 374 . 9683 . 56–64 . July 2009 . 19559476 . 10.1016/S0140-6736(09)61117-X . free . 10144/72797 .
2. Alirol E, Schrumpf D, Amici Heradi J, Riedel A, de Patoul C, Quere M, Chappuis F . Nifurtimox-eflornithine combination therapy for second-stage gambiense human African trypanosomiasis: Médecins Sans Frontières experience in the Democratic Republic of the Congo . Clinical Infectious Diseases . 56 . 2 . 195–203 . January 2013 . 23074318 . 10.1093/cid/cis886 . free .
3. Web site: Nifurtimox-eflornithine combination treatment for sleeping sickness (human African trypanosomiasis): WHO wraps up training of key health care personnel . https://web.archive.org/web/20141021143836/http://www.who.int/trypanosomiasis_african/research/combination_treatment/en/ . dead . October 21, 2014 . World Health Organization . March 23, 2010.
4. Franco JR, Simarro PP, Diarra A, Ruiz-Postigo JA, Samo M, Jannin JG . Monitoring the use of nifurtimox-eflornithine combination therapy (NECT) in the treatment of second stage gambiense human African trypanosomiasis . Research and Reports in Tropical Medicine . 3 . 93–101 . 2012 . 30100776 . 6067772 . 10.2147/RRTM.S34399 . free .