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Clinical data | |
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Trade names | Chloromycetin, Abeed, others[1] |
Other names | C/CHL/CL[2] |
AHFS/Drugs.com | Monograph |
MedlinePlus | a608008 |
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Routes of administration | Topical (eye drops), by mouth, intravenous therapy (IV), intramuscular injection (IM) |
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Pharmacokinetic data | |
Bioavailability | 75–90% |
Protein binding | 60% |
Metabolism | Liver |
Elimination half-life | 1.6–3.3 hours |
Excretion | Kidney (5–15%), faeces (4%) |
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ECHA InfoCard | 100.000.262 |
Chemical and physical data | |
Formula | C11H12Cl2N2O5 |
Molar mass | 323.13 g·mol−1 |
3D model (JSmol) | |
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Chloramphenicol is an antibiotic useful for the treatment of a number of bacterial infections.[5] This includes use as an eye ointment to treat conjunctivitis.[6] By mouth or by injection into a vein, it is used to treat meningitis, plague, cholera, and typhoid fever.[5] Its use by mouth or by injection is only recommended when safer antibiotics cannot be used.[5] Monitoring both blood levels of the medication and blood cell levels every two days is recommended during treatment.[5]
Common side effects include bone marrow suppression, nausea, and diarrhea.[5] The bone marrow suppression may result in death.[5] To reduce the risk of side effects treatment duration should be as short as possible.[5] People with liver or kidney problems may need lower doses.[5] In young infants, a condition known as gray baby syndrome may occur which results in a swollen stomach and low blood pressure.[5] Its use near the end of pregnancy and during breastfeeding is typically not recommended.[7] Chloramphenicol is a broad-spectrum antibiotic that typically stops bacterial growth by stopping the production of proteins.[5]
Chloramphenicol was discovered after being isolated from Streptomyces venezuelae in 1947.[8] Its chemical structure was identified and it was first synthesized in 1949. It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines.[9] It is available as a generic medication.[5]