• Dehydroemetine is available in an injection form as 60 mg of dehydroemetine dihydrochloride in a 1-ml ampoule.
• Injections should always be given intramuscularly with a minimum of at least 6 weeks before a second course is started.
Adults: 1 mg/kg daily, up to a maximum of 60 mg, for up to 4-6 days.
Elderly and severely ill patients: Reduction by up to 50% of adult dose.
Children: 1 mg/kg daily for no more than 5 days.
• While treating amebic dysentery, supplementary treatment with tetracycline will help in reducing bacterial superinfection.
• While treating hepatic abscess, supplementary treatment with chloroquine may be given orally, either simultaneously or immediately afterwards.
• Diloxanide (a second line treatment for amebic infections) should be taken orally by all patients after treatment is discontinued to eliminate surviving organisms in the colon.
• Injections should always be given intramuscularly with a minimum of at least 6 weeks before a second course is started.
Dosage & When it is to be taken
• The recommended dose of dehydroemetine isAdults: 1 mg/kg daily, up to a maximum of 60 mg, for up to 4-6 days.
Elderly and severely ill patients: Reduction by up to 50% of adult dose.
Children: 1 mg/kg daily for no more than 5 days.
• While treating amebic dysentery, supplementary treatment with tetracycline will help in reducing bacterial superinfection.
• While treating hepatic abscess, supplementary treatment with chloroquine may be given orally, either simultaneously or immediately afterwards.
• Diloxanide (a second line treatment for amebic infections) should be taken orally by all patients after treatment is discontinued to eliminate surviving organisms in the colon.
