Basic Information
- Habit forming? No
- Prescription needed? Yes
- Available as generic? No
- Drug class: Anthelmintics
Uses
Treatment of roundworms, pinworms, whipworms, hookworms and
other intestinal parasites.
Dosage & Usage Information
How to take or apply:
Tablet--Swallow with liquid or food to lessen stomach irritation.
Topical suspension--Apply to end of each tunnel or burrow
made by worm.
Chewable tablets--Chew thoroughly before swallowing.
Oral suspension--Follow package instructions.
When to take:
Morning and evening with food to increase uptake.
If you forget a dose:
Skip dose and begin treatment again. Often only one or two
doses are needed to complete treatment.
What drug does:
Kills or paralyzes the parasites. They then pass out of the
body in the feces. Usually the type of worm parasite must
be identified so the appropriate drug can be prescribed.
Time lapse before drug works:
Some take only hours; others, 1-3 days.
Don't take with:
Any other medicine without consulting your doctor or pharmacist.
Overdose
SYMPTOMS:
Increased severity of adverse reactions and side effects.
WHAT TO DO:
Overdose unlikely to threaten life. If person takes much larger
amount than prescribed, call doctor, poison control center
or hospital emergency room for instructions.
Possible Adverse Reactions or Side Effects
Life-threatening:
Common:
Infrequent:
- Abdominal pain, diarrhea, dizziness, fever, nausea, rectal
itching.
- Red stools, asparagus- like urine smell.
Rare:
Skin rash, itching, sore throat and fever, weakness (severe),
hair loss, headache, blurred vision, seizures.
Warnings & Precautions
Don't take if:
You are allergic to any anthelmintics.
Before you start, consult your doctor:
- If you have liver disease.
- If you have Crohn's disease.
- If you have ulcerative colitis.
Over age 60:
Adverse reactions and side effects may be more frequent and
severe than in younger persons. You may need smaller doses
for shorter periods of time.
Pregnancy:
Problems in humans have not been documented. Decide with your
doctor whether drug benefits justify risk to unborn child.
Breast-feeding:
Unknown effect. Consult your doctor.
Infants & children:
No problems expected. Don't give to a child under age 2 without
doctor's approval.
Prolonged use:
- Not intended for long-term use.
- Talk to your doctor about the need for follow-up medical
examinations or laboratory studies to check stools, cellophane
tape swabs pressed against rectal area to check for parasite
eggs, complete blood bounts (white blood cell count, platelet
count, red blood cell count, hemoglobin, hematocrit).
Skin & sunlight:
No problems expected.
Driving, piloting or hazardous work:
Use caution if the medicine causes you to feel dizzy or weak.
Otherwise, no problems expected.
Discontinuing:
No problems expected.
Others:
- Take full course of treatment. Repeat course may be necessary
if follow-up examinations reveal persistent infection.
- Wash all bedding after treatment to prevent re-infection.
Possible Interaction with Other Drugs
