Ercefuryl (Nifuroxazide)

Ercefuryl (nifuroxazide) is used for acute diarrhoea thought to be caused by bacteria, when there are no signs of invasive infection such as high fever or blood in the stool. Under the current Czech licence it can be given to adults and to children over 6 years. It is always taken together with oral rehydration, because replacing lost fluid and salts matters more than the antibacterial itself.

Nifuroxazide acts mainly inside the gut against the bacteria causing the diarrhoea; only about 10–20% of a dose is absorbed into the blood. Adults take 800 mg a day (four 200 mg capsules) split into 2–4 doses, and treatment should not go beyond 7 days.

• It does not replace rehydration. Adults should drink about 2 litres of fluid a day while the diarrhoea lasts, and older people need particular care.
• See the doctor again if the diarrhoea has not improved after 2 days, or if fever, vomiting or blood in the stool appears.
• Not for children under 6, or for anyone allergic to nitrofuran medicines. Age limits differ by country: France restricted nifuroxazide to adults in 2019.
• Not recommended in pregnancy or while breastfeeding. Each capsule contains sucrose, so it is unsuitable for people with hereditary fructose intolerance or sucrase-isomaltase deficiency.

Is Ercefuryl still available?

Ercefuryl is no longer sold in France, where it was best known. It remains authorised in the Czech Republic under Takeda, and that is the source we check first. Because availability changes, we confirm the country of supply and the expiry date before you pay anything.

What documents do we need?

• A prescription from your doctor with the daily dose and number of days (the label allows up to 7 days)
• A short note on the illness, for example acute diarrhoea with no blood in the stool
• Government-issued photo ID of the patient

We confirm the order only after the prescription has been checked.

How many capsules make one course?

The Czech pack holds 14 capsules of 200 mg. An adult on the full dose of 4 capsules a day uses one pack in about three and a half days, so a full 7-day course needs two packs.

How should the capsules be stored?

Below 25 °C, in the original pack to protect them from light and moisture. The shelf life under the Czech licence is 5 years.

Acute diarrhoea usually settles within days, so speed matters more than quantity with Ercefuryl. Before quoting, we check with authorised European distributors that stock is available, and we tell you honestly if it is not.

For Ercefuryl availability and price in India, call +91-9310090915 or email info@indianpharmanetwork.in.

Global Approval Status:

• Czech Republic: Authorised (Takeda GmbH; product information revised February 2025).
• France: No longer marketed. Sanofi stopped selling Ercefuryl in July 2019, when nifuroxazide became prescription-only and was restricted to adults.
• United States: Not approved.

Sources:

• Ercefuryl 200 mg – Czech Summary of Product Characteristics (Takeda GmbH, February 2025)
• ANSM (French medicines agency): nifuroxazide restricted to adults and made prescription-only, 2019

Information last checked: October 2026.

Why is Ercefuryl prescribed?

Doctors prescribe Ercefuryl for acute bacterial diarrhoea without signs of invasive infection. It is an intestinal nitrofuran antibacterial.

Who is the maker of Ercefuryl?

It is made by Takeda GmbH (licence holder in the Czech Republic); formerly sold in France by Sanofi.

How does Nifuroxazide act in the body?

Nifuroxazide acts mainly inside the gut against the bacteria causing the diarrhoea; only about 10–20% of a dose is absorbed into the blood.

Is Ercefuryl an antibiotic?

It is an intestinal antibacterial from the nitrofuran group. It works mainly inside the gut, and only a small part of each dose (about 10–20%) reaches the blood.

Can Ercefuryl be taken in pregnancy?

The current label does not recommend it during pregnancy, or for women who could become pregnant and are not using effective contraception, and it is also not recommended while breastfeeding. Ask your doctor about alternatives.

Is Ercefuryl FDA approved?

No. Ercefuryl is not approved by the US FDA.