▁In ▁general , ▁the ▁use ▁of ▁dil ox an ide ▁is ▁well ▁toler ated ▁with ▁minimal ▁to x icity . ▁Although ▁there ▁is ▁no ▁clear ▁risk ▁of ▁harm ▁when ▁used ▁during ▁pre gn ancy , ▁dil ox an ide ▁should ▁be ▁avoided ▁in ▁the ▁first ▁trim ester ▁if ▁possible . ▁ ▁D il ox an ide ▁f uro ate ▁is ▁not ▁recommended ▁in ▁women ▁who ▁are ▁breast ▁feed ing , ▁and ▁in ▁children ▁< 2 ▁years ▁of ▁age . ▁ ▁Ph arm ac ology ▁ ▁D il ox an ide ▁f uro ate ▁dest ro ys ▁tro ph oz o ites ▁of ▁E . ▁hist ol yt ica ▁and ▁prevents ▁am o eb ic ▁c yst ▁formation . ▁The ▁exact ▁mechanism ▁of ▁dil ox an ide ▁is ▁unknown . ▁D il ox an ide ▁is ▁struct ur ally ▁related ▁to ▁ch lor am phen icol ▁and ▁may ▁act ▁in ▁a ▁similar ▁fashion ▁by ▁blocking ▁protein ▁synth esis . ▁ ▁The ▁prod rug , ▁dil ox an ide ▁f uro ate , ▁is ▁met abol ized ▁in ▁the ▁g astro int est inal ▁tract ▁to ▁release ▁the ▁active ▁drug , ▁dil ox an ide . ▁▁ 9 0 % ▁of ▁each ▁do se ▁is ▁ex cret ed ▁in ▁the ▁ur ine ▁and ▁the ▁other ▁ 1 0 % ▁is ▁ex cret ed ▁in ▁the ▁f ec es . ▁ ▁Society ▁and ▁culture ▁It ▁is ▁on ▁the ▁World ▁Health ▁Organ ization ' s ▁List ▁of ▁Ess ential ▁Medic ines , ▁the ▁saf est ▁and ▁most