Details

Albendazole is an anthelmintic or anti- worm medication. It prevents newly hatched insect larvae (worms) from growing or multiplying in your body. Albendazole is used to treat certain infections caused by worms such as pork tapeworm and dog tapeworm. Albendazole may also be used to treat other types of worm infections.

Typical Uses

Albendazole is an anthelmintic, prescribed for tapeworm infections, hydatid cyst disease, cysticercosis or neurocysticercosis, capillariasis, cutaneous larva migrans, giardiasis, microsporidiosis including Septata intestinalis infection, intestinal parasites in immigrants, strongyloidiasis, trichinosis and trichostrongyliasis. It works by killing sensitive parasites.

Side Effects

Some of the side effects that can occur with Albendazole may include headache, seizures, confusion, raised intracranial pressure, dizziness/vertigo, signs that meningeal sings, reversible hair loss, infection, hypersensitivity including rash and hives, allergic reactions, abdominal pain, nausea/vomiting, acute kidney failure, dark urine, abnormal liver function tests, inflammation of liver, decrease in the number of white blood cells, thrombocytes, haemoglobin and fever.

Drug Interactions

• Albendazole+clozapine- Using clozapine together with albendazole is not recommended. Clozapine can lower white blood cell count, and combining it with other medications that can also affect bone marrow function such as albendazole may increase the risk. You may be more likely to develop serious and potentially life-threatening infections as a result.

Mechanism of action

Albendazole belongs to class of medications called anti-helminthic. Albendazole works by keeping the worm from absorbing sugar (glucose), so that the worm loses energy and dies.

Pregnancy Category : D