● Name and classification of the drug:
○ Nitazoxanide (Alinia)
○ Classification: antiprotozoal agent
● Use (indication of the drug):
○ Treatment of diarrhea caused by Cryptosporidium parvum (Cryptosporidiosis)
and Giardia lamblia (Giardiasis) in children 12 mos and older, adults.
● Responsibilities (priority) of the nurse pertaining to drug administration
○ Check for the correct patient using two patient identifiers (e.g., name and date of
birth).
○ Perform hand hygiene prior to medication preparation.
○ Prepare the medication for ONE patient at a time.
○ Reconstitute oral suspension with 48 ml water to provide concentration of 100
mg/5 ml.
○ Keep the container tightly closed, and shake well before each administration.
○ Give the required dose (5 or 10 mL) every 12 hours for 3 days.
○ Keep the reconstituted solution for 7 days at room temperature (15°–30° C) as it
is stable, after which any unused portion must be discarded.
○ Assess bowel sounds for peristalsis, appetite, level of abdominal discomfort and
extent of bloating.
○ Monitor daily pattern of bowel activity, stool consistency, and total hydration
status.
○ Monitor for therapeutic effectiveness: No watery stools and 2 soft stools with no
hematochezia within the past 24 h or no symptoms and no unformed stools within
the past 48 h.
● Side effect (most common) and adverse (life-threatening) reaction of the drug that
needs to be watched out for, and
○ stomach pain
○ headache
○ nausea
○ discolored urine
○ NONE known adverse effects. (Saunders Nursing Drug Handbook, 2016)
● Education (important/key information) for patient about the drug
○ Educate client on drug therapy to promote understanding and compliance.
○ Take all of your medicine as directed even if you think you are better.
○ Parents of children with diabetes should be aware that the oral suspension
contains 1.48 g of sucrose per 5 ml.
○ Children ages 1 to 11 years should use only the oral suspension (liquid) form of
nitazoxanide.
○ Take nitazoxanide with food.
○ Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat. Keep the bottle tightly
closed when not in use. Throw away any unused liquid after 7 days.
Nitazoxanide was originally discovered in 1980’s by Jean Francois Rossignol at the Pasteur
Institute. Initial studies demonstrated activity aganist tapeworms. (White, 2003)
References:
Nitazoxanide: MedlinePlus Drug Information. (2022).
https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a603017.html
Nitazoxanide (Alinia) - Side Effects, Interactions, Uses, Dosage, Warnings. (2020, June 23).
EverydayHealth.com. https://www.everydayhealth.com/drugs/nitazoxanide
Kizior, R. J., & Hodgson, B. B. (2016). Saunders Nursing Drug Handbook 2019 E-Book.
Elsevier Health Sciences.
White, A. C. (2003). Nitazoxanide: an important advance in anti-parasitic therapy. The American
journal of tropical medicine and hygiene, 68(4), 382-383.