Mebendazole
Indications
Mebendazole is used for:
Enterobiasis, Hookworm infections, Filariasis, Toxocariasis, Ascarisis, Trichuriasis, Trichostrongyliasis, Trichinellosis, Dracunculiasis
Adult Dose
Oral
Adults:
Enterobiasis :
A single tablet( 100 mg) or 1 teaspoonful (5 ml) of the suspension.
If cure is not achieved 3 wk after treatment, a second course of treatment is advised
Ascariasis, Ancylostomiasis, Trichuriasis :
100 mg bid for 3 consecutive days or 500 mg as single dose or 1 teaspoonful (5 ml) bid for 3 consecutive days.
If cure is not achieved 3 wk after treatment, a second course of treatment is advised
Taeniasis & strongyloidiasis :
100 mg bid for 3 consecutive days
If cure is not achieved 3 wk after treatment, a second course of treatment is advised
Child Dose
Oral
Enterobiasis
Child: >2
A single tablet( 100 mg) or 1 teaspoonful (5 ml) of the suspension.
If cure is not achieved 3 wk after treatment, a second course of treatment is advised
Ascariasis, Ancylostomiasis, Trichuriasis :
Child: >1 yr
100 mg bid for 3 consecutive days or 500 mg as single dose or 1 teaspoonful (5 ml) bid for 3 consecutive days.
If cure is not achieved 3 wk after treatment, a second course of treatment is advised
Taeniasis & strongyloidiasis :
100 mg bid for 3 consecutive days
If cure is not achieved 3 wk after treatment, a second course of treatment is advised
Renal Dose
Administration
May be taken with or without food. May be swallowed whole, chewed, or crushed and mixed with food
Contra Indications
Hypersensitivity. Infants and children <2 yr.
Precautions
Hepatic impairment. Childn. Pregnancy and lactation. Monitoring Parameters Periodic assessment of haematologic, hepatic, and renal function; check for helminth ova in faeces w/in 3-4 wk following the initial therapy.
Lactation: Excretion in breast milk unknown; use caution
Pregnancy-Lactation
Pregnancy category: C
Lactation: Excretion in breast milk unknown; use caution
Interactions
Decreased plasma concentrations w/ carbamazepine and phenytoin. Increased plasma concentrations w/ cimetidine.
Adverse Effects
Side effects of Mebendazole :
Transient diarrhoea, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, headache, tinnitus, numbness, fever, alopecia, rash, pruritus, urticaria, angioedema, flushing, hiccups, cough, weakness, drowsiness, chills, hypotension, seizures, transient abnormalities in LFT (e.g. increased serum concentrations of aminotransferases, glutamyltransferase alkaline phosphatase, and/or bilirubin), hepatitis, increased BUN, decreased Hb concentration and/or hematocrit, leucopenia, eosinophilia, haematuria, cylindruria, migration of roundworms through the mouth and nose.
Potentially Fatal: Myelosuppression, manifested as neutropenia (including agranulocytosis) and/or thrombocytopenia.
Mechanism of Action
Mebendazole inhibits formation of helminth microtubules. It selectively and irreversibly blocks the uptake of glucose and other nutrients in susceptible helminths, resulting in endogenous depletion of glycogen stores in the helminth.