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Nitazoxanide

Rx Oral RxCUI 427163
Contents

Overview

Active ingredient
Nitazoxanide
Established class
Antiprotozoal
Route
Oral
Label date
2025-10-09

Indications and usage

Diarrhea caused by Giardia lamblia or Cryptosporidium parvum: Nitazoxanide tablets (patients 12 years and older) are indicated for the treatment of diarrhea caused by Giardia lamblia or Cryptosporidium parvum. Limitations of Use Nitazoxanide tablets have not been shown to be effective for the treatment of diarrhea caused by Cryptosporidium parvum in HIV-infected or immunodeficient patients [see Clinical Studies (14.2) ]. Nitazoxanide tablets are antiprotozoal indicated for the treatment of diarrhea caused by Giardia lamblia or Cryptosporidium parvum (1). Limitations of Use: Nitazoxanide tablets have not been shown to be effective for the treatment of diarrhea caused by C. parvum in HIV-infected or immunodeficient patients (1) .

Dosage and administration

  • Nitazoxanide tablets should not be administered to pediatric patient 11 years of age or younger (2.1).
  • Dosage for treatment of diarrhea caused by G. lamblia or C. parvum (2.1) : Age Dosage Duration 12 years and older One nitazoxanide tablet (500 mg nitazoxanide) every 12 hours with food 3 days 2.1 Recommended Dosage and Important Administration Instructions Important Administration Instructions for Pediatric Patients 11 years of Age or Younger: Nitazoxanide tablets should not be administered to pediatric patients 11 years of age or younger because a single tablet contains a greater amount of nitazoxanide than the recommended dosing in this pediatric age group. Table 1. Recommended Dosage Age Dosage Duration 12 years and older One Nitazoxanide tablet (500 mg nitazoxanide) taken orally every 12 hours with food 3 days

Dosage forms and strengths

  • Nitazoxanide tablets: 500 mg (3.1)

3.1 Nitazoxanide Tablets (500 mg) Round, yellow colored film coated tablet, debossed with “SUVEN” on one side and “500” on the other side. Each tablet contains 500 mg of nitazoxanide.

Contraindications

Hypersensitivity (4.1)

4.1 Hypersensitivity Nitazoxanide tablets are contraindicated in patients with a prior hypersensitivity to nitazoxanide or any other ingredient in the formulations.

Drug interactions

Competition for binding sites may occur when administered concurrently with other highly plasma protein-bound drugs with narrow therapeutic indices. Monitor for adverse reactions (7) .

7.1 Highly Protein Bound Drugs with Narrow Therapeutic Indices Tizoxanide (the active metabolite of nitazoxanide) is highly bound to plasma protein (>99.9%). Therefore, monitor for adverse reactions when administering nitazoxanide concurrently with other highly plasma protein-bound drugs with narrow therapeutic indices, as competition for binding sites may occur (e.g., warfarin).

Adverse reactions

The most common adverse reactions in ≥2% of patients were abdominal pain, headache, chromaturia, and nausea (6.1) . To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Rising Pharma Holdings, Inc. at 1-844-874-7464 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch .

6.1 Clinical Trials Experience Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice. The safety of nitazoxanide was evaluated in 2177 HIV-uninfected subjects 12 months of age and older who received nitazoxanide tablets or nitazoxanide for oral suspension at the recommended dose for at least three days. In pooled controlled clinical trials involving 536 HIV-uninfected subjects treated with nitazoxanide tablets or nitazoxanide for oral suspension, the most common adverse reactions were abdominal pain, headache, chromaturia and nausea (≥2%). Safety data were analyzed separately for 280 HIV-uninfected subjects ≥12 years of age receiving nitazoxanide at the recommended dose for at least three days in 5 placebo-controlled clinical trials and for 256 HIV-uninfected subjects 1 through 11 years of age in 7 controlled clinical trials. There were no differences between the adverse reactions reported for nitazoxanide-treated subjects based upon age.

6.2 Postmarketing Experience The following adverse reactions have been identified during post approval use of nitazoxanide. Because these reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to reliably estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship to drug exposure. The following is a list of adverse reactions spontaneously reported with nitazoxanide tablets which were not included in clinical trial listings: Gastrointestinal disorders: diarrhea, gastroesophageal reflux disease Nervous System disorders: dizziness Respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders: dyspnea Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders: rash, urticaria

Overdosage

Limited information on nitazoxanide overdosage is available. In the event of overdose, gastric lavage may be appropriate soon after oral administration. Patients should be observed and given symptomatic and supportive treatment. There is no specific antidote for overdose with nitazoxanide. Because tizoxanide is highly protein bound (>99.9%), dialysis is unlikely to significantly reduce plasma concentrations of the drug.

Use in specific populations

Pediatric Patients: Safety and efficacy of ALINIA for Oral Suspension in pediatric patients less than one year of age has not been studied ( 8.4 ).

8.1 Pregnancy Risk Summary There are no data with nitazoxanide in pregnant women to inform a drug-associated risk. No teratogenicity or fetotoxicity was observed in animal reproduction studies with administration of nitazoxanide to pregnant rats and rabbits during organogenesis at exposures 30 and 2 times, respectively, the exposure at the maximum recommended human dose of 500 mg twice daily based on body surface area (BSA). In the U.S. general population, the estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage in clinically recognized pregnancies is 2% to 4% and 15% to 20%, respectively. Data Animal Data Nitazoxanide was administered orally to pregnant rats at doses of 0, 200, 800 or 3200 mg/kg/day on gestation days 6 to 15. Nitazoxanide produced no evidence of systemic maternal toxicity when administered once daily via oral gavage to pregnant female rats at levels up to 3200 mg/kg/day during the period of organogenesis. In rabbits, nitazoxanide was administered at doses of 0, 25, 50, or 100 mg/kg/day on gestation days 7 to 20. Oral treatment of pregnant rabbits with nitazoxanide during organogenesis resulted in minimal maternal toxicity and no external fetal anomalies.

8.2 Lactation Risk Summary No information regarding the presence of nitazoxanide in human milk, the effects on the breastfed infant, or the effects on milk production is available. The development and health benefits of breastfeeding should be considered along with the mother’s clinical need for nitazoxanide and any potential adverse effects on the breastfed infant from nitazoxanide or from the underlying maternal condition.

8.4 Pediatric Use The safety and efficacy of ALINIA for Oral Suspension for the treatment of diarrhea caused by G. lamblia or C. parvum in pediatric patients 1 to 11 years of age has been established based on three (3) randomized, controlled studies with 104 pediatric subjects treated with ALINIA for Oral Suspension 100 mg/5 mL. Furthermore, the safety and efficacy of ALINIA for Oral Suspension for the treatment of diarrhea caused by G. lamblia or C. parvum in pediatric patients 12 to 17 years of age has been established based on two (2) randomized controlled studies with 44 pediatric subjects treated with ALINIA for Oral Suspension 100 mg/5 mL. [ see Clinical Studies (14.1) ] The safety and efficacy of nitazoxanide tablets for the treatment of diarrhea caused by G. lamblia or C. parvum in pediatric patients 12 to 17 years of age has been established based on three (3) randomized controlled studies with 47 pediatric subjects treated with nitazoxanide tablets 500 mg. A single nitazoxanide tablet contains a greater amount of nitazoxanide than is recommended for use in pediatric patients 11 years or younger. [see Dosage and Administration (2.1) ]. Safety and efficacy of ALINIA for Oral Suspension in pediatric patients less than one year of age has not been studied.

8.5 Geriatric Use Clinical studies of nitazoxanide tablets and Alinia for oral suspension did not include sufficient numbers of subjects aged 65 and over to determine whether they respond differently from younger subjects. In general, the greater frequency of decreased hepatic, renal, or cardiac function, and of concomitant disease or other drug therapy in elderly patients should be considered when prescribing nitazoxanide tablets and Alinia for oral suspension.

8.6 Renal and Hepatic Impairment The pharmacokinetics of nitazoxanide in patients with compromised renal or hepatic function has not been studied.

8.7 HIV-Infected or Immunodeficient Patients Nitazoxanide tablets and Alinia for oral suspension have not been studied for the treatment of diarrhea caused by G. lamblia in HIV-infected or immunodeficient patients. Nitazoxanide tablets and Alinia for oral suspension have not been shown to be superior to placebo for the treatment of diarrhea caused by C. parvum in HIV-infected or immunodeficient patients [see Clinical Studies (14) ].

Pregnancy

Risk Summary There are no data with nitazoxanide in pregnant women to inform a drug-associated risk. No teratogenicity or fetotoxicity was observed in animal reproduction studies with administration of nitazoxanide to pregnant rats and rabbits during organogenesis at exposures 30 and 2 times, respectively, the exposure at the maximum recommended human dose of 500 mg twice daily based on body surface area (BSA). In the U.S. general population, the estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage in clinically recognized pregnancies is 2% to 4% and 15% to 20%, respectively. Data Animal Data Nitazoxanide was administered orally to pregnant rats at doses of 0, 200, 800 or 3200 mg/kg/day on gestation days 6 to 15. Nitazoxanide produced no evidence of systemic maternal toxicity when administered once daily via oral gavage to pregnant female rats at levels up to 3200 mg/kg/day during the period of organogenesis. In rabbits, nitazoxanide was administered at doses of 0, 25, 50, or 100 mg/kg/day on gestation days 7 to 20. Oral treatment of pregnant rabbits with nitazoxanide during organogenesis resulted in minimal maternal toxicity and no external fetal anomalies.

Pediatric use

The safety and efficacy of ALINIA for Oral Suspension for the treatment of diarrhea caused by G. lamblia or C. parvum in pediatric patients 1 to 11 years of age has been established based on three (3) randomized, controlled studies with 104 pediatric subjects treated with ALINIA for Oral Suspension 100 mg/5 mL. Furthermore, the safety and efficacy of ALINIA for Oral Suspension for the treatment of diarrhea caused by G. lamblia or C. parvum in pediatric patients 12 to 17 years of age has been established based on two (2) randomized controlled studies with 44 pediatric subjects treated with ALINIA for Oral Suspension 100 mg/5 mL. [ see Clinical Studies (14.1) ] The safety and efficacy of nitazoxanide tablets for the treatment of diarrhea caused by G. lamblia or C. parvum in pediatric patients 12 to 17 years of age has been established based on three (3) randomized controlled studies with 47 pediatric subjects treated with nitazoxanide tablets 500 mg. A single nitazoxanide tablet contains a greater amount of nitazoxanide than is recommended for use in pediatric patients 11 years or younger. [see Dosage and Administration (2.1) ]. Safety and efficacy of ALINIA for Oral Suspension in pediatric patients less than one year of age has not been studied.

Geriatric use

Clinical studies of nitazoxanide tablets and Alinia for oral suspension did not include sufficient numbers of subjects aged 65 and over to determine whether they respond differently from younger subjects. In general, the greater frequency of decreased hepatic, renal, or cardiac function, and of concomitant disease or other drug therapy in elderly patients should be considered when prescribing nitazoxanide tablets and Alinia for oral suspension.

Description

Nitazoxanide tablets contain the active ingredient, nitazoxanide, a synthetic antiprotozoal for oral administration. Nitazoxanide is a pale yellow to yellow crystalline powder. It is poorly soluble in ethanol and practically insoluble in water. Chemically, nitazoxanide is 2-acetyloxy- N -(5-nitro-2-thiazolyl) benzamide. The molecular formula is C 12 H 9 N 3 O 5 S and the molecular weight is 307.3. The structural formula is: Nitazoxanide tablets contain 500 mg of nitazoxanide and the following inactive ingredients: maize starch, partially pregelatinized maize starch, sodium starch glycolate, hypromellose, talc, magnesium stearate, soy lecithin, polyvinyl alcohol, xanthan gum, titanium dioxide, D&C Yellow No.10 Aluminum Lake, FD&C Yellow No. 6 Aluminum Lake and FD&C Blue No.2 Aluminum Lake. nitazoxanide-structure.jpg

Clinical pharmacology

12.1 Mechanism of Action Nitazoxanide is an antiprotozoal [see Microbiology (12.4) ].

12.3 Pharmacokinetics Absorption Single Dosing: Following oral administration of nitazoxanide tablets or oral suspension, the parent drug, nitazoxanide, is not detected in plasma. The pharmacokinetic parameters of the metabolites, tizoxanide and tizoxanide glucuronide are shown in Tables 2 and 3 below. Table 2. Mean (+/- SD) plasma pharmacokinetic parameters of tizoxanide and tizoxanide glucuronide following administration of a single dose of one 500 mg nitazoxanide tablet with food to subjects ≥12 years of age Tizoxanide Tizoxanide Glucuronide Age C max (μg/mL) *T max (hr) AUC ԏ (μg

  • hr/mL) C max (μg/mL) *T max (hr) AUC ԏ (μg
  • hr/mL) 12-17 years ≥18 years 9.1 (6.1) 10.6 (2.0) 4.0 (1-4) 3.0 (2-4) 39.5 (24.2) 41.9 (6.0) 7.3 (1.9) 10.5 (1.4) 4.0 (2-8) 4.5 (4-6) 46.5 (18.2) 63.0 (12.3) * T max is given as a Mean (Range) Table 3. Mean (+/- SD) plasma pharmacokinetic of tizoxanide and tizoxanide glucuronide parameter values following administration of a single dose of nitazoxanide for oral suspension with food to subjects ≥1 year of age Tizoxanide Tizoxanide Glucuronide Age Dose C max (μg/mL) *T max (hr) AUC inf (μg
  • hr/mL) C max (μg/mL) *T max (hr) AUC inf (μg
  • hr/mL) 1-3 years 100 mg 3.11 (2.0) 3.5 (2-4) 11.7 (4.46) 3.64 (1.16) 4.0 (3-4) 19.0 (5.03) 4-11 years 200 mg 3.00 (0.99) 2.0 (1-4) 13.5 (3.3) 2.84 (0.97) 4.0 (2-4) 16.9 (5.00) ≥18 years 500 mg 5.49 (2.06) 2.5 (1-5) 30.2 (12.3) 3.21 (1.05) 4.0 (2.5-6) 22.8 (6.49) * T max is given as a Mean (Range) Multiple dosing: Following oral administration of a single nitazoxanide tablet every 12 hours for 7 consecutive days, there was no significant accumulation of nitazoxanide metabolites tizoxanide or tizoxanide glucuronide detected in plasma. Bioavailability: Nitazoxanide for oral suspension is not bioequivalent to nitazoxanide tablets. The relative bioavailability of the suspension compared to the tablet was 70%. When nitazoxanide tablets are administered with food, the AUC ԏ of tizoxanide and tizoxanide glucuronide in plasma is increased almost two-fold and the C max is increased by almost 50%. When nitazoxanide for oral suspension was administered with food, the AUC ԏ of tizoxanide and tizoxanide glucuronide increased by about 45-50% and the C max increased by ≤10%. Nitazoxanide tablets and nitazoxanide for oral suspension were administered with food in clinical trials and hence they are recommended to be administered with food [ see Dosage and Administration (2.1) ]. Distribution In plasma, more than 99% of tizoxanide is bound to proteins. Elimination Metabolism Following oral administration in humans, nitazoxanide is rapidly hydrolyzed to an active metabolite, tizoxanide (desacetyl-nitazoxanide). Tizoxanide then undergoes conjugation, primarily by glucuronidation. Excretion Tizoxanide is excreted in the urine, bile and feces, and tizoxanide glucuronide is excreted in urine and bile. Approximately two-thirds of the oral dose of nitazoxanide is excreted in the feces and one-third in the urine. Specific Populations Pediatric Patients The pharmacokinetics of tizoxanide and tizoxanide glucuronide following administration of nitazoxanide tablets in pediatric patients 12-17 years of age are provided above in Table 2.Mean (±SD) plasma pharmacokinetic parameters of tizoxanide and tizoxanide glucuronide following administraton of a single dose of one 500 mg Nitazoxanide Tablet with food to subject ≥12 years of age. The pharmacokinetics of tizoxanide and tizoxanide glucuronide following administration of nitazoxanide for oral suspension in pediatric patients 1-11 years of age are provided above in Table 3. Mean (±SD) plasma pharmacokinetic of tizoxanide and tizoxanide glucuronide parameter values following administration of a single dose of ALINIA for Oral suspension with food to subjects ≥1 year of age. Drug Interaction Studies In vitro studies demonstrated that tizoxanide has no significant inhibitory effect on cytochrome P450 enzymes.

12.4 Microbiology Mechanism of Action The antiprotozoal activity of nitazoxanide is believed to be due to interference with the pyruvate:ferredoxin oxidoreductase (PFOR) enzyme-dependent electron transfer reaction which is essential to anaerobic energy metabolism. Studies have shown that the PFOR enzyme from G. lamblia directly reduces nitazoxanide by transfer of electrons in the absence of ferredoxin. The DNA-derived PFOR protein sequence of C. parvum appears to be similar to that of G. lamblia. Interference with the PFOR enzyme-dependent electron transfer reaction may not be the only pathway by which nitazoxanide exhibits antiprotozoal activity. Resistance A potential for development of resistance by C. parvum or G. lamblia to nitazoxanide has not been examined. Antimicrobial Activity Nitazoxanide and its metabolite, tizoxanide, are active in vitro in inhibiting the growth of (i) sporozoites and oocysts of C. parvum and (ii) trophozoites of G. lamblia. Susceptibility Test Methods For protozoa such as C. parvum and G. lamblia , standardized tests for use in clinical microbiology laboratories are not available.

Mechanism of action

Nitazoxanide is an antiprotozoal [see Microbiology (12.4) ].

Pharmacokinetics

Absorption Single Dosing: Following oral administration of nitazoxanide tablets or oral suspension, the parent drug, nitazoxanide, is not detected in plasma. The pharmacokinetic parameters of the metabolites, tizoxanide and tizoxanide glucuronide are shown in Tables 2 and 3 below. Table 2. Mean (+/- SD) plasma pharmacokinetic parameters of tizoxanide and tizoxanide glucuronide following administration of a single dose of one 500 mg nitazoxanide tablet with food to subjects ≥12 years of age Tizoxanide Tizoxanide Glucuronide Age C max (μg/mL) *T max (hr) AUC ԏ (μg

  • hr/mL) C max (μg/mL) *T max (hr) AUC ԏ (μg
  • hr/mL) 12-17 years ≥18 years 9.1 (6.1) 10.6 (2.0) 4.0 (1-4) 3.0 (2-4) 39.5 (24.2) 41.9 (6.0) 7.3 (1.9) 10.5 (1.4) 4.0 (2-8) 4.5 (4-6) 46.5 (18.2) 63.0 (12.3) * T max is given as a Mean (Range) Table 3. Mean (+/- SD) plasma pharmacokinetic of tizoxanide and tizoxanide glucuronide parameter values following administration of a single dose of nitazoxanide for oral suspension with food to subjects ≥1 year of age Tizoxanide Tizoxanide Glucuronide Age Dose C max (μg/mL) *T max (hr) AUC inf (μg
  • hr/mL) C max (μg/mL) *T max (hr) AUC inf (μg
  • hr/mL) 1-3 years 100 mg 3.11 (2.0) 3.5 (2-4) 11.7 (4.46) 3.64 (1.16) 4.0 (3-4) 19.0 (5.03) 4-11 years 200 mg 3.00 (0.99) 2.0 (1-4) 13.5 (3.3) 2.84 (0.97) 4.0 (2-4) 16.9 (5.00) ≥18 years 500 mg 5.49 (2.06) 2.5 (1-5) 30.2 (12.3) 3.21 (1.05) 4.0 (2.5-6) 22.8 (6.49) * T max is given as a Mean (Range) Multiple dosing: Following oral administration of a single nitazoxanide tablet every 12 hours for 7 consecutive days, there was no significant accumulation of nitazoxanide metabolites tizoxanide or tizoxanide glucuronide detected in plasma. Bioavailability: Nitazoxanide for oral suspension is not bioequivalent to nitazoxanide tablets. The relative bioavailability of the suspension compared to the tablet was 70%. When nitazoxanide tablets are administered with food, the AUC ԏ of tizoxanide and tizoxanide glucuronide in plasma is increased almost two-fold and the C max is increased by almost 50%. When nitazoxanide for oral suspension was administered with food, the AUC ԏ of tizoxanide and tizoxanide glucuronide increased by about 45-50% and the C max increased by ≤10%. Nitazoxanide tablets and nitazoxanide for oral suspension were administered with food in clinical trials and hence they are recommended to be administered with food [ see Dosage and Administration (2.1) ]. Distribution In plasma, more than 99% of tizoxanide is bound to proteins. Elimination Metabolism Following oral administration in humans, nitazoxanide is rapidly hydrolyzed to an active metabolite, tizoxanide (desacetyl-nitazoxanide). Tizoxanide then undergoes conjugation, primarily by glucuronidation. Excretion Tizoxanide is excreted in the urine, bile and feces, and tizoxanide glucuronide is excreted in urine and bile. Approximately two-thirds of the oral dose of nitazoxanide is excreted in the feces and one-third in the urine. Specific Populations Pediatric Patients The pharmacokinetics of tizoxanide and tizoxanide glucuronide following administration of nitazoxanide tablets in pediatric patients 12-17 years of age are provided above in Table 2.Mean (±SD) plasma pharmacokinetic parameters of tizoxanide and tizoxanide glucuronide following administraton of a single dose of one 500 mg Nitazoxanide Tablet with food to subject ≥12 years of age. The pharmacokinetics of tizoxanide and tizoxanide glucuronide following administration of nitazoxanide for oral suspension in pediatric patients 1-11 years of age are provided above in Table 3. Mean (±SD) plasma pharmacokinetic of tizoxanide and tizoxanide glucuronide parameter values following administration of a single dose of ALINIA for Oral suspension with food to subjects ≥1 year of age. Drug Interaction Studies In vitro studies demonstrated that tizoxanide has no significant inhibitory effect on cytochrome P450 enzymes.

Carcinogenesis, mutagenesis, fertility

, Mutagenesis, Impairment Of Fertility Carcinogenesis Long-term carcinogenicity studies have not been conducted. Mutagenesis Nitazoxanide was not genotoxic in the Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell chromosomal aberration assay or the mouse micronucleus assay. Nitazoxanide was genotoxic in one tester strain (TA 100) in the Ames bacterial mutation assay. Impairment of Fertility Nitazoxanide did not adversely affect male or female fertility in the rat at 2400 mg/kg/day (approximately 20 times the clinical adult dose adjusted for body surface area).

Information for patients

17 PATIENT COUNSELING INFORMATION Advise patients and parents/caregivers of pediatric patients taking nitazoxanide tablets of the following information: Dosage and Administration: Nitazoxanide tablets should be taken with food. Drug-drug Interactions: Avoid concurrent warfarin use. Manufactured for: Rising Pharma Holdings, Inc. East Brunswick, NJ 08816 ALINIA for Oral Suspension is distributed by Lupin Pharmaceuticals, Inc. under license from Romark. ALINIA is a registered trademark of Romark Neutral code: 4323147/TS/DRUGS/2025 Revised : 09/2025 PIR52603-05