ANTHELMINTICS

Brand & Generic Names

Antiminth	Nemasole
Aut	Niclocide
Cobantril	NICLOSAMIDE
Combantrin	PYRANTEL
Foldan	PYRVINIUM
Helmex	Reese's Pinworm
Lombriareu	Medicine
Mebendacin	THIABENDAZOLE
MEBENDAZOLE	Triasox
Mebutar	Trilombrin
Mintezol	Vanquin
Mintezol (Topical)	Vermox
Minzolum	Viprynium

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:

None expected.

Common:

None expected.

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

GENERIC NAME	COMBINED EFFECT
-------------------------	-----------------------
Carbamazapine	Decreased effect of mebendazole.
Theophylline	Increased effect of theophylline (with
	thiabendazole use).

Possible Interaction with Other Substances

INTERACTS WITH	COMBINED EFFECT
---------------	---------------
Alcohol:	Decreased mebendazole effect. Avoid.
Beverages:	None expected.
Cocaine:	None expected.
Foods:	None expected.
Marijuana:	None expected.
Tobacco:	None expected.