Advertisements

Dusodril retard

Quick links to important sections

Dusodril retard

Advertisements
Advertisements

Method of action: Peripheral Vasodilators

Treatment option:

Medically reviewed

Laura Arias

Last updated on 22/12/2025

This page provides general, reference-level information compiled from official medical sources. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. For decisions about your health, please consult a qualified healthcare professional.

Advertisements

Overview of Dusodril retard

Quick Facts

Property Description
Active ingredient Naftidrofuryl (oxalate)
Form Prolonged-release capsules or tablets
Pharmacological class Peripheral Vasodilator / Vasoactive Agent
General purpose Improving circulation in the limbs
Origin Synthetic organic molecule

What Type of Medicine is Dusodril retard?

Dusodril retard is a prescription medicine containing the active ingredient Naftidrofuryl, which is a synthetic compound. It is a peripheral vasodilator, meaning it is designed to influence blood vessels outside of the heart and brain, primarily in the extremities. The term "retard" in its name is a key distinguishing feature, denoting that the medicine is formulated as a prolonged-release or sustained-action dose. This design ensures that the active ingredient is released slowly and steadily over a long duration after ingestion.

What is Dusodril retard’s General Purpose?

Its general purpose is to support the circulatory system by promoting better blood flow to the body’s peripheral tissues. By acting to widen blood vessels, the medicine facilitates an increased supply of oxygen and essential nutrients to reach muscles and nerves. Naftidrofuryl works by increasing blood flow to peripheral tissues and is recognized for its ability to enhance tissue perfusion in areas with limited circulation. The overall goal is to support the efficient function of muscles and nerves that may be struggling due to poor blood flow.

What is the Composition and Form?

Dusodril retard is a single-ingredient product containing Naftidrofuryl oxalate, packaged in a solid oral dosage form, such as a capsule or tablet. The sustained-action design is a crucial feature, as it ensures that drug levels remain consistent in the body throughout the day. This controlled-release mechanism provides continuous circulatory support, which is often beneficial for long-term chronic therapies.

Advertisements

What side effects are possible with Dusodril retard?

Possible Side Effects and Safety Information

Dusodril retard (containing naftidrofuryl oxalate) has a documented safety profile derived from regulatory sources, categorized by system-organ class and frequency.

Adverse Reactions by Frequency

Classification System-Organ Class Common Adverse Reactions (Observed in 1% to 10% of users)
Common Gastrointestinal Disorders Nausea, vomiting, stomach-ache, and diarrhea.
Uncommon Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue Disorders Skin rash.
Rare Hepatobiliary Disorders Hepatic disorders (e.g., hepatitis, liver failure).
Not Known Renal and Urinary Disorders Crystalline nephropathy, acute kidney injury/renal failure.

Serious and Clinically Significant Safety Concerns

The most serious documented risks are related to organ function, primarily the liver and kidneys. Rare reports include severe liver disorders, such as hepatitis or hepatic failure. A critical, though not quantifiable, risk is the potential for crystalline nephropathy, which can lead to acute kidney injury.

This specific kidney risk is associated with the active substance's metabolism into oxalate. Regulatory safety notes emphasize that this risk increases, particularly when the product is not taken with a sufficient amount of liquid. Proper hydration is a key safety measure.

Contraindications and Restrictions

Use of this medication is strictly contraindicated for individuals with a known history of oxalate stones or recurrent calcium-containing kidney stones due to the risk of crystalline formation in the kidney. It is also contraindicated in cases of known hypersensitivity to the active substance or its excipients. Caution and monitoring are advised for patients with certain severe cardiovascular conditions or pre-existing liver impairment.

Advertisements

Overdose and Emergency Response

Overdose Manifestations and Severe Outcomes

An overdose of naftidrofuryl oxalate may present with documented central nervous system and cardiovascular disturbances. Manifestations recorded in regulatory sources include convulsions and a depression of cardiac conduction. Overdose has been associated with severe systemic outcomes such as ventricular arrhythmia, acute renal failure, and acute hepatic necrosis or failure. The potential for a disturbance of the atrioventricular conduction time has also been formally described in clinical data, indicating profound physiological risk.

When to Seek Immediate Medical Help

Due to the risk of these severe complications, immediate emergency medical attention must be sought if any manifestations of overdose appear, particularly convulsions or profound cardiac effects. The documented severity of these outcomes necessitates urgent professional evaluation and intervention.

Official Management and Monitoring

Management of overdose is officially described as supportive and symptomatic, as no specific antidote is known. Procedures outlined in regulatory documents include considering gastric lavage and emesis for stomach emptying, and the use of activated charcoal. Clinical care requires continuous monitoring of cardiovascular function and respiration. For severe presentations, such as convulsions, the use of diazepam is described, and consideration of measures like electrical pacemaking or isoprenaline may be necessary to address cardiac effects.

Advertisements

Therapeutic Uses of Dusodril retard

What Dusodril Retard Treats: Main Uses and Benefits

Dusodril Retard (naftidrofuryl oxalate) is a medicinal product generally used for managing symptoms related to systemic imbalance in the vascular system. Its therapeutic domain involves conditions presenting with systemic or localized discomfort, particularly those linked to functional stress in the limbs. The medicine is indicated for various peripheral vascular disorders, including intermittent claudication and conditions involving episodic or fluctuating manifestations like Raynaud's phenomenon.

The medicine may be part of symptomatic management in clinical settings that involve acute or unstable symptom patterns. It is relevant for easing disruptive episodes where symptoms that interfere with daily functioning—such as pain during activity—are prominent. This action contributes to easing the overall symptom load and supports patients during episodes of heightened discomfort. It provides supportive relief when symptoms become temporarily overwhelming.

“It is commonly used to help with symptom clusters that may become intense or disruptive during flare-ups.”

Quick Fact: Supportive Relief for Discomfort During Activity

Advertisements

Eligibility and Restrictions for Use

Eligibility Map: Who can and cannot use Dusodril retard — official regulatory information

Eligibility scope

Populations for whom use is allowed (as stated in label):

  • Adults prescribed the medicine for documented peripheral vascular disorders.

Populations for whom use is contraindicated:

  • Individuals with known hypersensitivity to the active substance or excipients.
  • Patients with a history of hyperoxaluria or recurrent calcium-containing kidney stones.
  • Individuals with certain disorders of cardiac function, such as atrioventricular block or severe cardiac conduction abnormalities.

Age-related eligibility rules:

  • Use is not recommended for children and adolescents, as safety and efficacy have not been established in the pediatric population.

Condition-specific eligibility rules:

  • Caution should be exercised in patients with pre-existing renal insufficiency (kidney impairment) or hepatic insufficiency (liver impairment).

Pregnancy and lactation eligibility status (if explicitly documented):

  • Pregnancy: Use is not advisable due to the absence of relevant clinical data.
  • Lactation: The medicine should not be used by breast-feeding women.

Official eligibility statements:

  • The medicine is contraindicated in patients with specific metabolic and cardiac conditions, as defined in regulatory documents.
  • Use is limited to the adult population, and conditional caution is mandated for patients with known organ insufficiency.
  • Not recommended or not advisable classifications apply to all pediatric, pregnant, and lactating groups.

Connection to the overall eligibility profile: The regulatory profile strictly limits Naftidrofuryl use to adults, issuing absolute contraindications related to its metabolic breakdown (oxalate formation) and certain pre-existing cardiac conditions. Furthermore, official labeling restricts use in pregnant, breastfeeding, and pediatric populations due to insufficient supporting data, and requires caution for individuals with impaired liver or kidney function.

Advertisements

What should I know about interactions with other medicines?

Dusodril retard is subject to specific interaction patterns and co-administration restrictions as defined in official regulatory documents. The documented profile focuses on critical pharmacodynamic risks and mandatory procedural constraints, rather than explicit pharmacokinetic alterations.

Contraindicated Combinations

The co-administration of Dusodril retard with Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs) is a formal prohibition by regulatory bodies. This restriction is based on the documented risk of a serious pharmacodynamic reaction, specifically a hypertensive crisis. Additionally, the medicine is contraindicated in individuals with a history of hyperoxaluria or recurrent calcium-containing kidney stones. This is a restriction tied to the naftidrofuryl oxalate salt, which may promote the formation of calcium oxalate kidney stones.

Documented Pharmacodynamic Risks

Caution is formally advised when naftidrofuryl is co-administered with other medicines that possess Central Nervous System (CNS) depressant effects. This combination carries a documented risk of increasing the severity or occurrence of CNS depression. Furthermore, concurrent use with anticoagulants or antiplatelet drugs may lead to an increased official risk of bleeding.

Procedural and Population Constraints

The capsule must always be taken with a sufficient amount of water to prevent the local interaction risk of oesophagitis. Regulatory documents also note that the interaction potential and subsequent exposure may be heightened, requiring careful use or avoidance in patients with severe liver or kidney impairment due to the drug's clearance mechanisms.

Advertisements

Mechanism of Action

The pharmacological activity of Naftidrofuryl is defined by a dual mechanism involving vascular tone modulation and cellular energy pathway influence.


Modulating Arterial Tone via Serotonin Receptor Blockade

The active ingredient, Naftidrofuryl, targets the 5 -HT2 A receptor on the smooth muscle of peripheral blood vessels, acting as an antagonist to block the constricting signals from serotonin. This inhibition prevents excessive vasoconstriction, resulting in peripheral arterial dilation and a modification of blood flow dynamics within the peripheral vasculature.


Enhancing Mitochondrial Metabolic Efficiency

Naftidrofuryl also modulates key enzymes within the cell's powerhouses, the mitochondria, optimizing the process of aerobic cellular respiration and energy (ATP) production. This mechanism modulates metabolic processes within muscle and nerve cells, enhancing the efficiency of oxygen and nutrient utilization under conditions of reduced vascular supply.


Supporting Microcirculatory Dynamics

Beyond vessel dilation, the drug’s antagonism of the 5 -HT2 A receptor extends to platelets, inhibiting aggregation and also contributing to the modification of red blood cell flexibility. These changes modify the rheological properties of the blood, facilitating the passage of blood components through the microvasculature and influencing overall tissue perfusion.

Advertisements

Dosage and Administration Information

Administration Protocol

Dusodril retard (naftidrofuryl oxalate) is administered via the oral route as a prolonged-release capsule. The capsule must be swallowed whole and must not be opened, crushed, or chewed. This procedural constraint is essential to preserve the intended sustained-action delivery of the active ingredient, ensuring the medicine is released slowly over time.


General Dosing and Scheduling

The standard adult daily dosage generally ranges from 300 mg to 600 mg total. This is commonly achieved through individual doses of 100 mg or 200 mg taken on a schedule of three times per day (t.i.d.). For purposes of evaluation, the treatment course is often initiated and assessed after a minimum duration of three months of continuous use.


Contextual Use Requirements

Proper administration requires the medicine to be taken during meals and always with a sufficient amount of water (e.g., at least one full glass). If a scheduled dose is missed, a double dose should not be taken to compensate. The medicine is not indicated for use in children, and caution is a required consideration for use in adult patients with severe hepatic or renal impairment.

Advertisements

Recent Clinical Evidence

Dusodril retard: Recent Clinical Evidence

Dusodril retard, which contains the active substance Naftidrofuryl oxalate, is a drug that has been investigated in clinical studies primarily for the management of symptoms associated with Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD), such as intermittent claudication (pain in the legs or arms caused by too little blood flow, usually during exercise).

Overview of Studies

Research has explored whether Naftidrofuryl oxalate affects the distance patients can walk without pain (Pain-Free Walking Distance, PFWD) and the maximum distance they can walk (Maximum Walking Distance, MWD).

Focus of Study Key Finding (Neutral Summary)
Symptomatic Relief in PAD Studies evaluated whether the agent affected walking distances, with some findings suggesting a statistically significant increase in both PFWD and MWD compared to placebo.
Comparative Efficacy Research has compared the agent to other vasoactive drugs, suggesting a potential difference in the percentage increase in MWD relative to other treatments in certain study populations.

Mechanism and Safety Profile

The agent's mechanism of action involves functioning as a vasodilator, helping to widen blood vessels, and acting as a selective antagonist of 5-HT2 receptors. It is also hypothesized to affect cellular oxidative processes.

In clinical trials, the agent's profile was generally reported as tolerable by most participants. Reported adverse effects have included gastrointestinal symptoms, such as nausea and abdominal pain, and sometimes rash. The agent's safety profile has been studied in the context of long-term use.

Advertisements

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Common questions about Dusodril retard (FAQ)

Q: What is Dusodril retard and what is it used for?

Dusodril retard is the brand name for a medication containing the active substance isoxsuprine. Isoxsuprine is a type of medicine known as a vasodilator, meaning it helps to widen blood vessels. It is used to treat symptoms associated with cerebral insufficiency (reduced blood flow to the brain) and some conditions involving peripheral vascular disease (reduced blood flow to the limbs). By widening the blood vessels, it can help to increase blood flow and oxygen supply to the affected areas.


Q: How should I take Dusodril retard?

Dusodril retard is a modified-release or retard tablet, which means the active substance is released slowly over time. You must swallow the tablet whole with a glass of water. Do not crush, chew, or divide the tablet, as this can affect the way the medicine is released into your body and may increase the risk of side effects. Always follow the specific instructions provided by your doctor or pharmacist regarding the dose and timing of your medication.


Q: What are the common side effects of Dusodril retard?

Like all medicines, Dusodril retard can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them. The common side effects are generally related to the blood-vessel-widening action of the medication. These may include:

  • Dizziness or lightheadedness: This can happen especially when standing up too quickly.
  • Palpitations: A feeling of a rapid, strong, or irregular heartbeat.
  • Nausea or upset stomach.
  • Headache.
  • Flushing: A sensation of warmth and redness, particularly in the face and neck.

If any side effect becomes severe or bothersome, you should talk to your doctor or pharmacist.


Q: Can I take Dusodril retard if I am pregnant or breastfeeding?

Pregnancy: It is generally not recommended to use Dusodril retard during pregnancy unless your doctor considers the potential benefit to outweigh the potential risk to the fetus. This medication is sometimes used in specific situations to relax the uterine muscle, but only under strict medical supervision. You should inform your doctor immediately if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or think you might be pregnant.

Breastfeeding: It is not known whether isoxsuprine passes into breast milk. Therefore, it is generally recommended to avoid using Dusodril retard while breastfeeding. Your doctor will weigh the benefit of the medication for you against the potential risks to the baby.


Q: What should I avoid while taking Dusodril retard?

While taking this medication, you should:

  • Avoid sudden changes in position: Since the medication can cause dizziness or lightheadedness due to a drop in blood pressure (orthostatic hypotension), stand up slowly, especially when rising from a lying or sitting position, to reduce the risk of falling.
  • Inform your doctor or dentist about taking Dusodril retard before any surgery or medical procedure.
  • Be cautious if you are driving or operating machinery until you know how the medication affects you, as dizziness can impair your ability.

Always disclose all other medications, including over-the-counter drugs and herbal supplements, to your doctor or pharmacist to avoid potential drug interactions.

Advertisements

How should Dusodril retard be stored and disposed of?

How to Store and Dispose of Dusodril retard (Naftidrofuryl oxalate)

This section outlines the mandatory storage and disposal instructions for Dusodril retard as established in official regulatory documents.


Official Storage Requirements

To ensure product stability, Dusodril retard must be stored at a temperature not exceeding 25 C or 30 C, depending on the specific label. The medicine must be protected from light and moisture and should be kept in its original package to maintain these conditions. In line with public safety requirements, the product must be stored out of the sight and reach of children.


Disposal Instructions

Unused or expired Dusodril retard must not be disposed of via wastewater or household waste, as required by environmental protection guidelines. Disposal should follow local regulatory requirements or involve returning the medicine to a pharmacist for appropriate handling.

Attention! Always consult to a doctor or pharmacist before using pills or medicines.

Available in countries:

Equivalent of Dusodril retard found in:

A-Z Index: