In humans, the range is from 1.5 to 3.5 hours. As expected, anuria in humans has little impact on elimination, increasing it only to 3 to 4 hours. Most adverse effects of chloramphenicol are easily handled, but the idiosyncratic blood dyscrasias which they cause place this drug in a special, reserved category. Biological effects Superinfection Superinfection with resistant organisms is to be expected with this as with any broad spectrum drug. Anorexia Anorexia has been observed in dolphins, whales, and California sea lions after one to two days of treatment with chloraphenicol.
Drug is administered by injecting it into fish used for food.
A former student related that workers at the Mystic, CT aquarium have observed that it is very difficult to get the animals eating again. This is listed among the biological effects, because the author believes that a direct effect would be more rapidly reversed. The problem may well stem from alteration of intestinal flora, but there is no evidence to support this contention. Hypersensitivity Hypersensitivity is not regarded as an important problem, although it does occur. Although the idiosyncratic blood dyscrasias may have an element of hypersensitivity as a cause, it is not currently thought to be the primary mechanism.