Generic Name: iodoquinol (eye oh DOE quih nol)
Brand Name: Yodoxin, Diquinol
What is iodoquinol?
Iodoquinol is an anti-infective medicine that fights infections caused by amoebae (a MEE bay).
Iodoquinol is used to treat intestinal infections caused by certain parasites.
Iodoquinol may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
What is the most important information I should know about iodoquinol?
You should not use iodoquinol if you have liver disease.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking iodoquinol?
You should not use iodoquinol if you are allergic to it, or if you have:
liver disease; or
an allergy to clioquinol (iodo Plain, Ala-Quin, Dermasorb) or hydroxyquinoline (Trimo-San).
To make sure iodoquinol is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:
a history of liver problems;
a thyroid disorder;
nerve problems (such as numbness, tingling, or burning pain in your hands or feet); or
an eye condition called optic neuritis (inflammation of nerve fibers behind your eyes).
It is not known whether iodoquinol will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using this medicine.
It is not known whether iodoquinol passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
How should I take iodoquinol?
Follow all directions on your prescription label. Do not take this medicine in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended.
Take iodoquinol after a meal.
Call your doctor if your symptoms do not improve, or if they get worse while using iodoquinol.
Use this medicine for the full prescribed length of time. Your symptoms may improve before the infection is completely cleared. Skipping doses may also increase your risk of further infection that is resistant to antibiotics. Iodoquinol will not treat a viral infection such as the flu or a common cold.
To prevent reinfection, wash your hands often and scrub your fingernails. Take a bath or shower every day. Wash all clothing, bed linens, undergarments, and towels in hot water and dry in high heat. This will also help keep other people in your household from becoming infected.
Iodoquinol can cause unusual results with certain thyroid function tests for up to 6 months after you stop taking this medicine. Tell any doctor who treats you that you have taken iodoquinol.
Store at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light.
What happens if I miss a dose?
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.
What should I avoid while taking iodoquinol?
This medicine may cause blurred vision and may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert and able to see clearly.
Iodoquinol side effects
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Call your doctor at once if you have:
acne-like rash with pus-filled lesions;
skin redness or itching;
vision problems, pain behind your eyes;
numbness, tingling, or burning pain in your hands or feet;
fever, chills; or
swelling in your neck or throat (enlarged thyroid).
Common side effects may include:
nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain;
dizziness, spinning sensation.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
See also: Side effects (in more detail)
Iodoquinol dosing information
Usual Adult Dose for Amebiasis:
650 mg orally 3 times a day for 20 days. In moderate or severe cases of intestinal amebiasis or extraintestinal amebiasis, iodoquinol should follow therapy with metronidazole.
Usual Adult Dose for Dientamoeba fragilis:
650 mg orally 3 times a day for 20 days. Follow-up stool examinations should be done 4 weeks after the start of therapy.
Usual Adult Dose for Balantidium coli:
650 mg orally 3 times a day for 20 days. Iodoquinol is considered an alternative to tetracycline in the treatment of Balantidium coli infections.
Usual Adult Dose for Blastocystis hominis:
650 mg orally 3 times a day for 20 days. Metronidazole, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, and iodoquinol have been suggested as possible therapeutic choices in treating Blastocystis hominis.
What other drugs will affect iodoquinol?
Tell your doctor about all medicines you use, and those you start or stop using during your treatment with iodoquinol, especially:
This list is not complete. Other drugs may interact with iodoquinol, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible interactions are listed in this medication guide.
More about iodoquinol
Related treatment guides
Where can I get more information?
- Your pharmacist can provide more information about iodoquinol.
- Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.
- Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
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