Efficacy of a combined diloxanide furoate-metronidazole preparation in the treatment of amoebiasis and giardiasis.

A combined formulation of diloxanide furoate and metronidazole was used to treat amoebiasis and giardiasis (cysts and vegetative forms) in 54 patients. Of these 34 patients had amoebiasis, 19 had giardiasis and one had mixed infection. Each patient took one tablet (containing 500 mg diloxanide furoate and 400 mg metronidazole), three times daily for 5 days, and the response to therapy was checked by clinical examination and by examination of fresh stools on days 3, 5 and 10. Abdominal pain was completely relieved in 91% and 84% of patients with amoebiasis and giardiasis, respectively, while parasitic clearance was 100% in both groups. Tolerance to the drug was adequate.