albendazole
Generic Name: albendazole (al BEN da zole)i
Brand Names: Albenza
What is the most important information I should know about
albendazole?i
Do not take albendazole if you are pregnant
Avoid pregnancy for at least 1 month following albendazole therapy
Take albendazole with food to lessen stomach upset
What is albendazole?i
Albendazole is an "antihelmintic, or anti-worm, medication. It prevents worms from growing or multiplying in your body
Albendazole is used to treat infections caused by worms such as pork tapeworm and dog tapeworm
Albendazole may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide
Who should not take albendazole?i
Before taking albendazole, tell your doctor about any other medical conditions that you have, especially liver disease. You may require a lower dose or special monitoring during therapy if you have liver problems
Albendazole is in the FDA pregnancy category C. This means that it is not known whether it will harm an unborn baby. Do not take albendazole without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant. Pregnancy should also be avoided for at least 1 month following therapy with albendazole. It is not known whether albendazole passes into breast milk and how it might affect a nursing baby. Do not take albendazole without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby
How should I take albendazole?i
Take albendazole exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not understand these directions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you
Take each dose with a full glass of water
Take albendazole tablets with food to lessen stomach upset
Take all of the albendazole that has been prescribed for you even if you begin to feel better. Your symptoms may start to improve before the infection is completely treated. It can take 30 days to 3 months to treat this infection
What happens if I miss a dose?i
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the dose you missed and take only your next regularly scheduled dose. Do not take a double dose of this medication
What happens if I overdose?i
Seek emergency medical attention or call a poison control center near you
What should I avoid while taking albendazole?i
Do not take albendazole if you are pregnant. Avoid pregnancy for at least 1 month following treatment with albendazole. There are no restrictions on foods, beverages, or activities while you are taking albendazole unless your doctor directs otherwise
What are the possible side effects of albendazole?i
Stop taking albendazole and seek emergency medical attention if you experience an allergic reaction (swelling of your lips, tongue, or face; shortness of breath; closing of your throat; or hives). Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur. Continue to take albendazole and talk to your doctor if you experience
abdominal pain, nausea, or vomiting
headache
dizziness or
a fever
Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome
What other drugs will affect albendazole?i
Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you are taking
dexamethasone (Decadron, Hexadrol),i
praziquantel (Biltricide), or
cimetidine (Tagamet, Tagamet HB)i
These medicines may increase the level of albendazole in your body. Your doctor will want to monitor drug interactions and make adjustments in dosage
Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with albendazole. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any prescription or over-the-counter medicines
Where can I get more information?i
Your pharmacist has more information about albendazole written for health professionals that you may read
What does my medication look like?i
Albendazole is available with a prescription under the brand name Albenza in 200 mg tablets. Other brand or generic formulations may also be available. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about this medication, especially if it is new to you
الموضوع منقول
المستحضرات التى تحتوى على albendazole فى السوق مثل
1-alzental
2-bendax
3-vermizol
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Description
Albendazole (al-BEN-da-zole) is used to treat infections caused by worms. Albendazole works by keeping the worm from absorbing sugar (glucose), so that the worm loses energy and dies
Albendazole is used to treat
Albendazole is available only with your doctor's prescription, in the following dosage forms
Oral
Tablets (U.S.)i
Proper Use of This Medicine
No special preparations (fasting, laxatives, or enemas) or other steps are necessary before, during, or immediately after treatment with albendazole
Albendazole is best taken with meals, especially with food containing fat , to help your body absorb the medicine better
For patients taking the tablet form of albendazole
Tablets should be swallowed whole with a small amount of
liquid
To help clear up your infection completely, take this medicine exactly as directed by your doctor for the full time of treatment
In some infections, additional treatments with this medicine may be needed at 2-week intervals to clear up the infection completely. Do not miss any doses
Dosing—The dose of albendazole will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label . The following information includes only the average doses of albendazole. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so
The number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are taking albendazole
For oral dosage form (tablets)i
For hydatid disease
Adults, teenagers, and children weighing 60 kilograms (132 pounds) and over ---- > 400 milligrams (mg) two times a day for twenty-eight days. Treatment may need to be repeated in fourteen days
Adults, teenagers, and children weighing less than 60 kilograms (132 pounds ---- >15 mg per kilogram (6.8 milligrams per pound) of body weight per day divided into two doses and taken for twenty-eight days. Treatment may need to be repeated in fourteen days
For infections of the nervous system caused by pork tapeworm
(neurocysticercosis)
Adults, teenagers, and children weighing 60 kilograms (132 pounds) and over—400 milligrams (mg) two times a day for eight to thirty days
For adults, teenagers, and children weighing less than 60 kilograms (132 pounds)—15 mg per kilogram (6.8 mg per pound) of body weight per day divided into two doses and taken for eight to thirty days
Side Effects of This Medicine
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of theseside effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention
Check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur
Rare
Fever; skin rash or itching; sore throat; unusual tiredness and weakness
Other side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. However, check with your doctor if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome
Less common
Abdominal pain; diarrhea; dizziness; headache; nausea; vomiting
Rare
Thinning or loss of hair
Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your doctor
Additional Information
Once a medicine has been approved for marketing for a certain use, experience may show that it is also useful for other medical problems. Although these uses are not included in product labeling in the U.S., albendazole is used in certain patients with the following infections
Capillariasis
Cutaneous larva migrans
Common roundworms (ascariasis)i
Hookworms (ancylostomiasis and necatoriasis)i
Pinworms (enterobiasis or oxyuriasis)i
Strongyloidiasis
Tapeworms (taeniasis)i
Trichostrongyliasis
Whipworms (trichuriasis)i
For patients taking albendazole for hookworms
In hookworm infections, anemia may occur. Therefore, your doctor may want you to take iron supplements. If so, it is important to take iron every day while you are being treated for hookworm infection. Do not miss any doses. Your doctor may also want you to keep taking iron supplements for at least 3 to 6 months after you stop taking albendazole. If you have any questions about this, check with your doctor
For patients taking albendazole for pinworms
In some patients, pinworms may return after treatment with albendazole. Wear pajamas and underwear to sleep, take a bath every day, and wash (not shake) all bedding and nightclothes (pajamas) after treatment to help prevent reinfection. Treatment may be repeated after 3 weeks
Pinworms may be easily passed from one person to another, especially among persons in the same household. Therefore, all household members may have to be treated at the same time to prevent their infection or reinfection
Other than the above information, there is no additional information relating to proper use, precautions, or side effects for these use
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