Drug reference
eflornithine
Ornithine Decarboxylase Inhibitor · Dermatologic
Ornithine Decarboxylase InhibitorDermatologic
CDSCO approved
EXCRETION
—
not curated
INTERACTIONS
—
none in our sources
PREGNANCY
X
FDA category + note
Mechanism
Not yet extracted
Indications
decrease rate of facial hair growthLate-stage West African (Gambian) trypanosomiasis (in combination with nifurtimox)Second-stage T. b. gambiense HAT (in combination with nifurtimox)
Dosing
- Adult
- 200 mg/kg bid for 7 days (IV) in combination therapy
- Pediatric
- 200 mg/kg bid for 7 days (IV) in combination therapy
Pharmacokinetics
Half-life
3 to 4 h
Excretion
Renal clearance is rapid, with more than 80% cleared by the kidney in unchanged form.
Side effects
Common
Abdominal painHeadachepancytopeniaGastrointestinal disturbances (nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain)Anorexia
Serious
- Injection site reactions
- Tissue infections
- Pneumonia
- Fever peaks (6%)
- Seizures (4%)
- Diarrhea (2%)
- Fluid overload (in susceptible patients)
- diarrhea
- seizures
- transient hearing loss
- Reversible bone marrow toxicity (anemia, leukopenia)
- Convulsions (<5%)
- Psychosis (<5%)
Pregnancy & lactation
Pregnancy
X
Related guidelines
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Sources: Goodman & Gilman 14e, Harrison 22e·Verified: 2026-05-10 · House clinical team