Levamisole
Indications
Levamisole is used for:
Ascariasis, Ancylostomiasis
Adult Dose
Oral
Ascariasis
Adult: 150 mg as a single dose.
Mixed ascariasis-hookworm infections; Ancylostomiasis
Adult: 2.5 mg/kg as a single dose, repeated after 7 days in severe cases.
Child Dose
Oral
Ascariasis
Child: 3 mg/kg as a single dose.
Mixed ascariasis-hookworm infections; Ancylostomiasis
Child: 2.5 mg/kg as a single dose, repeated after 7 days in severe cases.
Renal Dose
Administration
Should be taken with food. Take w/ meals to minimise side effects eg nausea.
Contra Indications
Preexisting blood disorders; pregnancy and lactation; rheumatoid arthritis; severe renal impairment.
Precautions
Hepatic impairment, Sjogren's syndrome.
Pregnancy-Lactation
Interactions
May increase toxicity of phenytoin. Increases bioavailability of ivermectin; decreases bioavailability of albendazole. Alcohol causes disulfiram-like reaction.
Adverse Effects
Side effects of Levamisole :
Nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, dizziness and headache. Fever, influenza-like syndrome, arthralgia, muscle pain, rash, taste disturbances and cutaneous vasculitis.
Potentially Fatal: Agranulocytosis, leucopenia, thrombocytopenia.
Mechanism of Action
Levamisole is the active laevo-isomer of tetramisole. It works by paralysing susceptible intestinal worms which are then excreted from the intestines. Levamisole also enhances cellular immune responses in humans.