DICHLORPHENAMIDE

Fetal Risk Summary

Dichlorphenamide is a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor used in the treatment of glaucoma. Its mechanism of action is similar to, but much more potent than, acetazolamide or methazolamide (see also Acetazolamide and Methazolamide). The drug is teratogenic in chicks, mice, and rats, producing otolith deficits and forelimb deformities in the fetuses of the latter two species, respectively (1). Skeletal anomalies were observed in rats at a dose 100 times the human dose (2). No reports of human use of dichlorphenamide during pregnancy have been located.

Breast Feeding Summary

No reports describing the use of dichlorphenamide during lactation have been located. The molecular weight (about 305) is low enough, however, that excretion into milk should be expected.

References

1. Shepard TH. Catalog of Teratogenic Agents. 6th ed. Baltimore, MD:Johns Hopkins University Press, 1989:213.
2. Product information. Daranide. Merck, 2000.