Benznidazole

Benznidazole is an antiparasitic medication used in the treatment of Chagas disease. While it is highly effective in early disease, the effectiveness decreases in those who have long-term infection. It is the first-line treatment given its moderate side effects compared to nifurtimox. It is taken by mouth.

Benznidazole
Clinical data
Trade namesRochagan, Radanil
AHFS/Drugs.comMonograph
License data
Routes of
administration		By mouth
ATC code
Legal status
Legal status
  • US: ℞-only
Pharmacokinetic data
BioavailabilityHigh
MetabolismLiver
Elimination half-life12 hours
ExcretionKidney and fecal
Identifiers
  • N-benzyl-2-(2-nitro-1H-imidazol-1-yl)acetamide
CAS Number
PubChem CID
DrugBank
ChemSpider
UNII
KEGG
ChEBI
ChEMBL
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)
ECHA InfoCard100.153.448
Chemical and physical data
FormulaC12H12N4O3
Molar mass260.253 g·mol−1
3D model (JSmol)
Melting point188.5 to 190 °C (371.3 to 374.0 °F)
SMILES
  • O=[N+]([O-])c1nccn1CC(=O)NCc2ccccc2
  • InChI=1S/C12H12N4O3/c17-11(14-8-10-4-2-1-3-5-10)9-15-7-6-13-12(15)16(18)19/h1-7H,8-9H2,(H,14,17) Y
  • Key:CULUWZNBISUWAS-UHFFFAOYSA-N Y
  (verify)
Not to be confused with Benzimidazole.

Side effects are fairly common. They include rash, numbness, fever, muscle pain, loss of appetite, and trouble sleeping. Rare side effects include bone marrow suppression which can lead to low blood cell levels. It is not recommended during pregnancy or in people with severe liver or kidney disease. Benznidazole is in the nitroimidazole family of medication and works by the production of free radicals.

Benznidazole came into medical use in 1971. It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines. As of 2012, Laboratório Farmacêutico do Estado de Pernambuco, a government run pharmaceutical company in Brazil was the only producer.

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