Albendazole
About Albendazole
Albendazole is an oral medicine used to treat various parasitic worm infections in the body, such as those affecting the gut, tissues, or organs. It works by targeting and eliminating these parasites, helping to clear the infection completely. Doctors typically prescribe it for specific types of tapeworms, roundworms, and other parasitic organisms.
You should take Albendazole exactly as prescribed by your doctor, completing the full course even if you start feeling better. Depending on the infection, you may take it as a single dose or twice daily, preferably with high-fat meals to help your body absorb the medicine better. Maintaining strict personal hygiene and washing hands frequently can also support your treatment and prevent reinfection.
Some people may experience mild side effects while taking this medicine, such as headache, stomach pain, or nausea. However, if you experience severe symptoms like unusual bruising, yellowing of the skin or eyes, or a severe skin rash, you should contact your doctor right away.
Before starting Albendazole, tell your doctor if you have a history of liver disease, blood disorders, or kidney problems. You should not take this medicine if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or have had an allergic reaction to similar anti-parasitic medications in the past.
This medicine can interact with certain liver enzymes, alcohol, or other drugs, which may increase the risk of liver damage or change how well the treatment works. Pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and elderly individuals should always consult their doctor before starting this medication to ensure it is safe for them.
Uses of Albendazole
• Treatment of intestinal infections: Albendazole is commonly prescribed to combat various intestinal worm infections, such as those caused by roundworms, tapeworms and hookworms.
• Management of strongyloidiasis: Albendazole effectively treats strongyloidiasis, an infection caused by the Strongyloides stercoralis parasite.
• Control of neurocysticercosis: Albendazole helps to manage neurocysticercosis, a condition caused by pork tapeworm larvae affecting the central nervous system.
• Prevention of re-infection: Albendazole can be prescribed to help prevent re-infection with certain parasites, particularly in areas where they are common.
• Support in mixed infections: Albendazole effectively treats mixed parasitic infections, covering a broader spectrum of helminth infections.
Medicinal Benefits
By eliminating parasitic worms and preventing them from growing or multiplying, Albendazole provides several important benefits for people with intestinal and tissue-based worm infections:
- Rapid relief from symptoms: By quickly targeting the parasites, Albendazole helps relieve uncomfortable symptoms like stomach cramps, diarrhoea, and anal itching caused by worm infections.
- Prevents serious complications: Treating tissue-dwelling parasites protects major organs like the brain, liver, and lungs from long-term damage and cyst growth.
- High cure rate with short courses: For many common intestinal worm infections, Albendazole provides an effective cure with just a single dose or a short, multi-day course, helping you recover quickly.
Directions for Use
- Albendazole can be taken with or without food, as advised by your doctor.
- Your doctor will determine the dosage and timing of this medication based on your medical condition.
- Swallow Albendazole as a whole with a glass of water.
- Do not crush or chew this medication.
Storage
Side Effects of Albendazole
Common Side Effects (Usually mild):
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Stomach pain, nausea, or vomiting
- Temporary hair thinning
Serious Side Effects (Call a doctor right away):
- Signs of liver damage, such as yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice) or dark urine
- Severe allergic reactions, including swelling of the face, throat, or tongue, and difficulty breathing
- Unusual bleeding, bruising, or extreme tiredness (signs of low blood cell counts)
- Severe, blistering skin rashes
Medicines Containing this Salt
View AllDrug Warnings
- Check the packaging: Always inspect the tablets or packaging before use; do not take the medicine if the seal is broken or if the tablets look discoloured or damaged.
- Avoid pregnancy: Use effective birth control while taking this medicine and for at least one month after your final dose, as it can harm an unborn baby.
- Monitor your liver: Your doctor may order regular blood tests to check your liver function and blood cell counts if you are taking this medicine for a long period.
- Complete the entire course: Never stop taking Albendazole early, even if you feel completely better, as stopping early can cause the infection to return.
Drug Interactions
Certain medicines can affect how Albendazole is absorbed, broken down, or cleared from the body, potentially altering its effectiveness or increasing the risk of side effects, including:
- Stomach Acid Reducers and Other Antiparasitic Medicines: Combining this medicine with certain stomach acid reducers (like cimetidine) or medications used to treat other parasites (like praziquantel) may change the levels of Albendazole in your blood, increasing the risk of side effects.
- Seizure Medications: Certain seizure medications (like carbamazepine or phenobarbital) may lower the effectiveness of Albendazole by speeding up how quickly your body processes it.
- Steroid Medications: Steroid medications (like dexamethasone) can increase the levels of Albendazole in your body, which may require your doctor to monitor you closely.
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
cautionIt is unknown whether alcohol interacts with Albendazole. Please consult your doctor.
Pregnancy
unsafeAlbendazole belongs to pregnancy category C. Do not take Albendazole if you are pregnant or planning for pregnancy, as it may cause fetal harm. Please consult your doctor if you have any concerns regarding this.
Breast Feeding
unsafeDo not breastfeed during and for a minimum of 5 days after treatment with Albendazole. Please consult your doctor if you have any concerns regarding this.
Driving
cautionAlbendazole may cause dizziness. Do not drive or operate machinery unless you are alert.
Liver
unsafeDose adjustment may be needed in patients with liver impairment. Please consult your doctor if you have a liver impairment or any concerns regarding this.
Kidney
cautionDose adjustment may be needed in patients with kidney impairment. Please consult your doctor if you have kidney impairment or any concerns regarding this.
Children
safe if prescribedAlbendazole can be given to children if prescribed by the doctor. Please consult your doctor. Your doctor will prescribe the dose of this medicine based on the age and body weight of your child.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- Eat fatty meals: Take Albendazole with high-fat foods to enhance the medicine's absorption and make it more effective against systemic infections.
- Practice strict hand hygiene: Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water after using the restroom, changing diapers, and before eating to prevent spreading eggs or reinfecting yourself.
- Wash bedding and clothing: Wash all bed sheets, blankets, underwear, and pajamas in hot water during and immediately after your treatment to kill any remaining parasite eggs.
- Keep fingernails short: Trim your nails closely and avoid biting them to prevent parasite eggs from getting trapped under your nails.
- Clean living spaces: Vacuum carpets and damp-mop floors regularly to remove any dust or debris that might contain microscopic worm eggs.
Special Advise
- Regular blood cell count and liver function monitoring are advised during treatment with Albendazole.
- Albendazole might increase the chances of getting an infection; maintain proper hygiene and try to stay away from people with infections, flu, or colds.
- Consult your doctor if you notice unusual bleeding or bruising, as you may bleed or bruise easily while taking Albendazole.
- Albendazole will not treat viral infections, such as the flu or common cold.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Parasitic worm infections: Parasitic worms are also called intestinal worms or helminths. They live in and feed on the hosts, leading to weakness and diseases. Common types of intestinal worms are roundworms and flatworms, such as tapeworms and flukes. Worm infections could occur due to consumption of contaminated water, food, or soil, contact with contaminated faeces, poor sanitisation, and poor hygiene. Symptoms of worm infections include abdominal pain, diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting, gas, bloating, fatigue, unexplained weight loss, and dysentery (bloody stools).
FAQs
Albendazole is used to treat parasite worm infections like neurocysticercosis (infection caused by pork tapeworm) and cystic hydatid disease (infection caused by dog tapeworm). Additionally, it is also used to treat infections caused by roundworms, hookworms, threadworms, whipworms, pinworms, flukes, and other parasites.
Albendazole causes metabolic disruption and energy depletion in the parasite, which leads to its immobilisation. Thereby, Albendazole kills the susceptible helminth and treats the infection.
Do not discontinue Albendazole without consulting your doctor. To treat your condition effectively, continue taking Albendazole for as long as prescribed. Do not hesitate to consult your doctor if you experience any difficulties while taking Albendazole.
You are recommended to avoid planning for pregnancy while taking Albendazole as it may cause fetal harm. A pregnancy test should be done before starting the treatment with Albendazole, and women must use effective birth-control while taking Albendazole and for at least 1 month after cessation of therapy.
Regular monitoring of blood count at the beginning of each cycle of therapy and every 2 weeks while taking Albendazole is advised for all patients. Treatment with Albendazole should be discontinued if a significant decrease in blood cell count is observed.
Treatment with Albendazole has been associated with mild to moderate elevations of liver enzymes. These elevations generally return to normal upon discontinuation of Albendazole. Liver function tests should be performed before each treatment cycle and every 2 weeks during the treatment. Treatment with Albendazole should be discontinued if the liver enzymes exceed twice the upper limit of normal.
Albendazole might increase the chances of getting an infection. Maintain proper hygiene and try to avoid contact with people who have infections, the flu, or a cold.
You may bleed or bruise easily while taking Albendazole. Be cautious while using sharp objects and try to avoid injuries. Consult your doctor if you notice unusual bleeding or bruising.
You are recommended to avoid taking Albendazole if you are allergic to Albendazole or any of its ingredients, if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, as it may cause fetal harm.
Albendazole should be used only under doctor’s supervision. Do not self-medicate, as it can cause some severe side effects. Therefore, if you suspect worm infections in your child, please consult a doctor.
Yes, Albendazole can cause diarrhoea as a side effect. In such cases, drink lots of water or other fluids to stay hydrated. However, if diarrhoea persists and you notice any signs of dehydration, such as reduced urination with strong-smelling and dark colored urine, consult your doctor. Do not take any other medications without your doctor’s advice.
No, taking Albendazole in more than the recommended dose will not make it more effective; rather, it can increase the risk of severe side effects and toxicity. If the symptoms are not relieved by the recommended doses, please consult your doctor.
Store Albendazole at room temperature in a cool, dry and dark place. Protect from light. Keep it out of reach of children.
Yes, Albendazole can be taken with or without food or as advised by your doctor. Follow your doctor’s instructions.
The side effects of Albendazole include stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, headache, and dizziness, in some cases. Most of these side effects do not require medical attention and will resolve gradually over time. However, you are advised to talk to your doctor if you experience these side effects persistently.
Yes, Albendazole may interact with praziquantel (an anthelmintic), dexamethasone (a corticosteroid), cimetidine (an antacid), and theophylline (an anti-asthma medication). Therefore, inform your doctor before taking Albendazole with other medicines to avoid possible interactions.
This medicine primarily kills adult worms and larvae, but it may not always destroy all the eggs. This is why practising strict hygiene and sometimes taking a second dose a few weeks later is necessary to prevent reinfection. Talk to your doctor to see if a repeat dose is needed.
It is highly recommended to avoid alcohol while taking this medicine. Both alcohol and this medication are processed by your liver, and combining them can increase the risk of liver damage or worsen side effects like dizziness. Talk to your doctor if you have concerns.
Yes, temporary hair thinning is a known, less common side effect, especially when the medicine is taken for a long time to treat complex tissue infections. Your hair should grow back normally once the treatment is finished. Talk to your doctor if this concern is troubling you.
No, you do not need to take a laxative or fast before taking this medicine. The parasites will be destroyed by the medication and naturally leave your body in your stool. Talk to your doctor if you have questions about what to expect.
If a child or anyone else accidentally takes this medicine without a prescription, seek emergency medical care or call your local poison control centre immediately. Keep all medications safely locked away and out of reach of children. Talk to your doctor for further safety advice.
