What is Lampit (nifurtimox), and how does it work?
Lampit is a prescription medicine used to treat Chagas disease caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi in children less than 18 years of age weighing at least 5.5 pounds (2.5 kg).
It is not known if Lampit is safe and effective in children weighing less than 5.5 pounds (2.5 kg).
What are the side effects of Lampit?
Lampit may cause serious side effects, including:
- Worsening of symptoms related to brain injury, seizures, mental health problems or behavior changes in people with a history of these problems. Call your healthcare provider right away if any of these problems get worse during treatment with Lampit.
- Allergic reactions. Allergic reactions can happen when taking nifurtimox, the active ingredient in Lampit, or with changes in your immune system caused by Chagas disease during treatment with Lampit. These allergic reactions can include low blood pressure, swelling of the face and tongue (angioedema), shortness of breath, itching, rash or other skin problems. Call your healthcare provider or get emergency medical help if you get any of these signs and symptoms of an allergic reaction during treatment with Lampit.
- Loss of appetite and weight loss. Your healthcare provider should check your weight every 14 days to see if your dose of Lampit may need to be changed.
The most common side effects of Lampit include:
These are not all the possible side effects of Lampit.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
What is the dosage for Lampit?
See the detailed Instructions for Use that comes with Lampit for information about how to split Lampit tablets and how to take Lampit if whole tablets or half tablets cannot be swallowed.
- Take Lampit exactly as your healthcare provider tells you.
- Your healthcare provider may change your dose if needed.
- Take your prescribed dose of Lampit 3 times a day with food.
- Lampit tablets are marked with a scored line. Lampit tablets can be taken whole or split at the scored line.
- Lampit tablets should be split by hand at the scored line. Do not split Lampit tablets using a tablet splitting device.
- If you cannot swallow Lampit tablets or you are giving Lampit to a child who cannot swallow the tablets, be sure to read the Instructions for Use that come with Lampit. Lampit tablets can be dissolved in water if whole tablets or half tablets cannot be swallowed.
- If you miss a dose of Lampit, take it as soon as possible with food. If it is within 3 hours of your next scheduled dose, skip the missed dose and take the next dose at your regular time. Do not take 2 doses to make up for a missed dose.
QUESTION
Bowel regularity means a bowel movement every day.
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What drugs interact with Lampit?
Concomitant use of Lampit with alcohol may increase the incidence and severity of undesirable effects similar to other nitrofurans and nitroheterocyclic compounds. Lampit is contraindicated in patients who consume alcohol during treatment.
Is Lampit safe to use while pregnant or breastfeeding?
For females who are able to become pregnant:
- Your healthcare provider should do a pregnancy test before you start taking Lampit to make sure that you are not pregnant.
- You should use effective forms of birth control during treatment with Lampit and for 6 months after your last dose of Lampit. Talk to your healthcare provider about what forms of birth control may be right for you.
- Call your healthcare provider right away if you become pregnant or think you are pregnant during treatment with Lampit.
- Lampit can pass into breast milk and may harm your baby. Talk to your healthcare provider about the best way to feed your baby during treatment with Lampit. If you take Lampit and breastfeed, monitor your baby for vomiting, rash, decreased appetite, fever, and irritability.