It is used to treat bacterial infections.

Chloramphenicol is used to treat serious infections in different parts of the body.

Chloramphenicol is an antibiotic which stops the growth of bacteria. It does so by preventing synthesis of essential proteins required by bacteria to carry out vital functions. This does not directly kill the bacteria, but prevents them from increasing in numbers, and eventually clears up the infection.

Major & minor side effects for Chloramphenicol

• Gray syndrome in babies
• Anemia
• Dark colored urine
• Sore throat and fever
• Unusual bleeding or bruising
• Confusion and delirium
• Partial/total loss of vision
• Difficulty in breathing
• Headache
• Nausea and Vomiting
• Burning, numbness, tingling in the arms and feet
• Swelling of face, lips, eyelids, tongue, hands and feet 
• Depression

This medicine is recommended for use in pregnant and breastfeeding women only when absolutely necessary 

This medicine should be used with caution in patients suffering from an impairment of the liver and/or the kidney. 

Report the use of this medicine to the doctor if a vaccination is scheduled.

This medicine should not be used to treat minor infections or infections where the causative organism is not identified.

It is recommended to complete the full course of treatment even when symptoms improve.

Long term and repeated use of this medicine should be avoided as the risk of getting a secondary infection are very high in such cases.

This medicine can cause symptoms like abdominal swelling, pale or blue skin, shock, breathing difficulties, low temperature etc when given to a newborn or an infant.  

Use of this medicine can lower the count of blood cells and cause anemia, bleeding, infections etc.

This medicine should be administered with caution in diabetic patients with frequent monitoring of blood sugar levels.

This medicine can reduce the effect of hormonal contraceptives and hence the risk of unintended pregnancies are high.

This medicine should be used with extreme caution in children, especially in infants.