Content
Albendazole drug
Composition and form of release
The pharmacological agent is available in the form of tablets or chewable capsules, there are one or two pieces in a cardboard package. Also, the drug can be presented as a suspension, the volume of the vial is 20 ml. The main active ingredient of the drug is albendazole, the concentration of which varies depending on the type of medication.
Additional components are: magnesium stearate, starch, silicon dioxide, sodium starch glycolate, talc, sodium dodecyl sulfate, propylparaben, gelatin, methylparaben, povidone. The substance belongs to benzimidazole carbamate derivatives and is a white powder. The drug dissolves well in strong acidic or alkaline environments, an example is dimethyl sulfoxide.
Pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics
The pharmacological product is used for the treatment of gnatostomosis and neurocysticercosis. With granular echinococcosis, it helps to reduce the size of cysts, and sometimes the use of a substance leads to their complete destruction. Approximately 5% of the medication is absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract after use. In blood plasma, Nemazole takes the form of a primary metabolite, which has a low bioavailability. The drug reaches its maximum concentration in 2-5 hours. The absorption properties of the drug are increased by the intake of very fatty foods.
The metabolite quickly spreads through organs and tissues due to its good connection with blood proteins. The agent is easily detected in urine, cerebrospinal fluid, bile. The half-life of the drug is about 8 hours. The above process is carried out through the intestines and kidneys. In patients with liver disease, an increase in the bioavailability of the drug is observed. The maximum concentration is doubled, the half-life is lengthened. In laboratory studies, the carcinogenic effect of the drug has not been confirmed.
Indications for use
Anthelmintic medicine has a wide spectrum of action. Doctors recommend the use of a pharmacological agent for the treatment of patients suffering from neurocysticercosis. The drug is effective in the fight against echinococcosis of the liver, lungs or peritoneum, the causative agent of which is the tapeworm. The medication is successfully used to treat children and adults from giardiasis, mixed helminthiasis, trichinosis and other dangerous ailments. A complete list of diseases is presented below:
- non-coronary artery disease;
- gnatostomosis;
- ascariasis;
- hymenolepiasis;
- enterobiasis;
- clonorchiasis;
- toxocariasis;
- teniasis;
- opisthorchiasis;
- capillariasis;
- trichocephalosis;
- microsporidiosis;
- strongyloidosis.
Method of administration and dosage
For the treatment of cysticercosis of the brain in children from two years of age, 15 mg of the drug is prescribed for each kilogram of weight. The therapy lasts 8 days, the cycle can be repeated if necessary. With diseases such as enterobiasis, ankylostomiasis and ascariasis, the patient should take 0.2 g of the substance at a time. Repeated treatment is allowed only after 21 days. The same recommendations should be followed for strongyloidosis or cestodosis. For the treatment of trichocephalosis, 0.4 g is used per dose. With giardiasis, the above dosage remains, but the duration of treatment is 3 days.
For prevention
The drug is often used prophylactically to combat various forms of helminthiasis. Unlike the standard course of therapy, the dosage is halved. That is, the patient takes no more than 10-20 ml of suspension per day, which is equivalent to 200-400 mg of tablets. Prophylaxis lasts about two days, the interval between procedures should be at least two months due to the toxicity of the active substance.
Albendazole for humans
Suspension Nemozol is much less concentrated than tablets, so it can be taken even by young children. The composition of the medication contains essences of fruits, thanks to which little patients take the medicine with pleasure. The drug is suitable for oral administration only. The only drawback of the suspension is the long course of therapy, which lasts from one to two weeks.
Suspension for animals
Albendazole 10% and 20% is intended solely for the treatment of animals. The drug is used for veterinary purposes, the manufacturer is Biochimpharm. The pharmacological product has a thick consistency, outwardly resembles a white suspension. The product is for oral use only, it is added to water or animal feed. No special diet is required.
The dosage of the drug is calculated based on the weight of the animal; it is recommended to give 1 ml of suspension per 10 kg of weight. For the treatment of cats and dogs, there is another pharmacological product with a similar name - Albendazole Ultra. The substance is available in the form of tablets and has a characteristic meaty smell, so that pets can swallow it without being forced. The anthelmintic is applied once or twice, depending on the size of the pet. For every 10 kg of weight, one tablet is intended.
special instructions
During therapy, liver function should be monitored regularly, since there is a likelihood of the development of pathological processes. In case of sudden onset of leukopenia, you must immediately stop using the tablets. Before taking the drug, women of childbearing age are advised to do a pregnancy test. For the period of treatment, reliable methods of contraception should be provided. Particular care should be taken in patients suffering from neurocysticercosis. In the presence of retinal damage, there is a high risk of complications.
During pregnancy
It is well known that women in a position need to be very careful when choosing medicines. Most modern pharmacological products are strictly forbidden to be taken by pregnant women, due to the high risk to fetal health. Albendazole is no exception, since experiments on animals have proven the tetarogenic activity of the drug. For this reason, this substance is contraindicated during pregnancy or lactation.
Albendazole for children
According to doctors' reviews, not enough research has been done to recommend this remedy for children under six years of age. When treating patients from one year to another, there were no significant changes in pharmacokinetics. The drug has shown the same therapeutic activity among both adults and children. However, you should not give Albendazole to children without a medical prescription.
Drug interactions
Instructions for the use of Albendazole states that taking certain drugs can increase the concentration of the active substance in the bile and echinococcal cyst of the patient. These include Praziquantel, Cimetidine, Dexamethasone. Doctors often use this factor to improve the effectiveness of treatment. Parallel use of the anthelmintic agent with Theophylline is allowed, but with this combination, it is necessary to constantly monitor the concentration of the latter in the blood plasma.
Side effects
Nemozole is considered the most popular protiglist drug. This tool has received a huge number of positive reviews from doctors and patients from all over the world. However, sometimes the use of the medication does not go as planned. The drug can cause some side effects that are in no way related to the toxic effects of its components. The death of helminths leads to the release of decay products, which contribute to the occurrence of organic intoxication. The most common negative consequences taking Albendazole are:
- fever;
- dizziness;
- heaviness in the abdomen;
- diarrhea;
- allergy;
- impaired renal function;
- increased blood pressure;
- leukopenia;
- polymorphic erythema;
- Stevens-Johnson syndrome.
To prevent the occurrence of the above side effects, experts recommend using the product together with sorbents. Representatives of this class include the following drugs: Enterosgel, activated carbon, Lactofiltrum. Sorbents have pronounced laxative properties, due to which the remnants of adult worms will very quickly leave the patient's body.
Overdose
Subject to the recommendations from the instructions for use, Albendazole is not capable of causing an overdose. Violation of these doses threatens not only with the appearance of adverse reactions, the strength and frequency of negative symptoms increases. The characteristic signs of an overdose are: severe headache, nausea, itching, fever. To relieve the aforementioned conditions, it is necessary to carry out symptomatic therapy, which includes gastric lavage and the intake of enterosorbents.
Contraindications
Albendazole is contraindicated in people with intolerance to one or more of the components of the medication. Allergy or any other negative reaction from the body indicates the inability to use of this drug for the therapy of a specific patient. The anthelmintic agent should not be used by pregnant or breastfeeding women, as there is a risk of harm to the health of the child.
You should not give medication to children under six years old, as this can lead to the development of pathological processes. Tablets are not prescribed for patients with damaged retina, because there is a possibility of complications. People suffering from liver diseases, suppression of bone marrow hematopoiesis and cysticercosis are contraindicated in taking this substance.
Terms of sale and storage
Analogs
For this reason, substances such as Oxfendazole and Febendazole are used only in veterinary medicine. A huge number of alternative pharmacological products are known that can replace Albendazole. They have a similar therapeutic effect, which greatly simplifies the process of choosing a medicine. Doctors often prescribe the following drugs to patients:
- Aldazole;
- Nourished;
- Nemozole;
- Zentel;
- Vermox;
- Naphtamon;
- Dekaris;
- Pirantel;
- Helmintox;
- Mebendazole.
Selectively inhibits the polymerization of beta-tubulin, disrupts the activity of the microtubular system of the cells of the intestinal canal of helminths; inhibits the utilization of glucose, blocks the movement of secretory granules and other organelles in the muscle cells of roundworms, causing their death.
It is especially effective against larval forms of cestodes - Echinococcus granulosus and Taenia solium, nematodes - Strongyloides stercolatis.
In the course of the studies carried out on mice and rats, no carcinogenic effect of the substance on the body was revealed. Albendazole adversely affects the fertility of animals, has teratogenic activity.
Indications for use
What does Albendazole help with? According to the instructions, the drug is prescribed in the following cases:
- with neurocysticercosis caused by the larva of the pork tapeworm;
- for the treatment of echinococcosis of the lungs, liver and peritoneum (causative agent - tapeworm);
- with ascariasis, enterobiasis, toxocariasis, opisthorchiasis, trichocephalosis, strongyloidiasis, giardiasis, noncatorosis, microsporidiosis;
- children suffering from giardiasis;
- with mixed helminthiasis;
- for the treatment of trichinosis, capillariasis, teniasis, cutaneous migratory larvae, clonorchiasis, hymenolepiasis, gnatostomiasis.
The drug is also used for capillarosis, gnatostomosis, trichinosis (caused by Trichinella spiralis and T. pseudospiralis), toxocariasis (caused by Toxosaga canis and other related species).
Instructions for use of Albendazole, dosages
The tablets are taken orally, during or after a meal, with a drink. clean water... It is recommended that therapy be carried out by all persons living in the same room.
Standard dosages, according to the instructions for use of Albendazole, depending on the indications and age:
- Giardiasis - 1 tablet 400 mg \ 1 time per day for 3 days.
- Ascariasis, trichocephalosis, enterobiasis and ankylostomiasis - with a weight of more than 20 kg take 400 mg once. If the need arises, the reception is repeated after 2-3 weeks. For children weighing up to 20 kg - 200 mg.
- Neurocysticercosis - taken at the rate of 1 kg \ 15 mg per day, the dosage is divided by 2 times. The course of treatment is 1 month. If echinococcosis has been diagnosed, then the dosage does not change. But now it is necessary to carry out 3 courses of treatment, which last for 28 days. There should be breaks of 14 days between them.
- Toxocariasis - for adults and children over 14 years old with a body weight of more than 60 kg Nemozol is used in a single dose of 400 mg, with a body weight of less than 60 kg - 200 mg, for children under 14 years of age, the dose is set at the rate of 10 mg / kg. The frequency of admission is 2 times a day, the duration of therapy is 7-14 days.
- Strongyloidosis - 400 mg 2 times a day for a week. With trichinosis, the same dosage is used, only the course of therapy is from 8 to 14 days. For the treatment of trichocephalosis, 400 mg \ 1 time per day is prescribed for 3 days.
- With capillariasis, children and adults are prescribed 400 mg daily for 10 days.
- With gnatostomosis, children and adults are prescribed 400 mg daily for 10–20 days.
- For cutaneous larva migrans, adults and children over 2 years of age are usually prescribed 400 mg daily for 1-3 days.
Maximum daily dosage- 800 mg.
During treatment, you do not need to follow any special diet or take laxatives.
special instructions
To avoid accidental use in early dates pregnancy, women of reproductive age should start treatment at the 1st week of menstruation or with a negative pregnancy test result. Patients should be warned about the need to use effective methods contraception during treatment and within 1 month after its cancellation.
The instruction warns that during the use of Albendazole, the activity of liver enzymes should be monitored before the start of each treatment cycle and (preferably) every 2 weeks during treatment. If the indicator is more than 2 times higher than the upper limit of the norm, the drug should be interrupted until it is completely normalized.
It is necessary to monitor the number of leukocytes at the beginning and every 2 weeks during each 28-day treatment cycle. The use of Albendazole for leukopenia can be continued if the degree of reduction is insignificant and leukopenia does not progress.
Side effects
The instruction warns of the possibility of developing the following side effects when prescribing Albendazole:
- From the nervous system and sensory organs: headache, dizziness, meningeal symptoms.
- From the digestive tract: pain in the abdomen, nausea, vomiting, increased activity of ALT, AST, ALP.
- Allergic reactions: skin rash, itching.
- Others: leukopenia, granulocytopenia, agranulocytosis, thrombocytopenia, pancytopenia, fever, increased blood pressure, impaired renal function, acute renal failure, alopecia.
Contraindications
It is contraindicated to prescribe Albendazole in the following cases:
- Hypersensitivity (including to other benzimidazole derivatives);
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding;
- Children under 6 years of age (safety not determined).
Overdose
In case of an overdose, an increase in the frequency and an increase in the nature of the manifestation of adverse reactions most often occurs.
The therapy is symptomatic, it is advisable to wash the stomach, take enterosorbents.
Analogues of Albendazole, price in pharmacies
If necessary, you can replace Albendazole with an analogue for the active substance - these are drugs:
- Gelmodol-VM,
- Sanoksal,
- Albendazole agrovets protection, 10% (for use in veterinary practice).
When choosing analogs, it is important to understand that the instructions for the use of Albendazole, the price and reviews, do not apply to drugs of a similar action. It is important to consult a doctor and not make your own replacement of the drug.
Price in pharmacies in Moscow and Russia: Albendazole in the form of an active substance is contained in Nemozol tablets (the most common analogue), the price of 1 tablet 400 mg - from 178 rubles, 5 tablets - from 620 rubles, the cost of a suspension of 20 ml - from 190 rubles, according to the data 698 pharmacies.
Store in a cool, dry place inaccessible to small children, temperature range - from 15 to 25 degrees.
Sale in pharmacies by prescription.
During the use of Albendazole, about 5% is absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. Taking the medicine in combination with fatty foods reduces the absorption capacity. The main component is metabolized in the liver and excreted from the body within 5-8 hours. Laboratory studies have confirmed the absence of a carcinogenic effect on the human body.
Manufactured form of the drug: white tablets with an active ingredient content of 0.4 mg. One package contains 3 tablets in a blister. The drug is not produced in the form of a solution for preparing a suspension.
Appointments, contraindications, side effects of Albendazole
Since Albendazole has extended indications for use, all contraindications of the drug must also be taken into account:
While taking the drug, side effects may occur in the form of:
To avoid the occurrence of side effects, the drug should be taken only as directed by a doctor and strictly adhere to the prescribed dosage.
Instructions for the use of Albendazole
Albendazole is administered orally after meals. The tablets are swallowed without chewing and washed down with the required amount of water.
An overdose of the drug causes an increase in side effects and intoxication of the body. Recommended symptomatic treatment, intake of enterosorbents, rapid cleansing of the stomach.
You can buy Albendazole at the pharmacy only with a prescription. The shelf life of the medicine is 3 years. After the expiration of the time, the use of the expired drug is strictly prohibited! Storage conditions at a temperature of 20-25 degrees, protected from light, dry, cool place inaccessible to children.
Additional indications and analogues of Albendazole
Drugs such as Praziquantel, Dexamethasone, Cimetidine significantly increase the amount of Albendozole in the blood.
There are no negative side effects when theophylline is combined with an essential drug. Long-term use of Albendazole involves constant monitoring of liver function. At the onset of leukopenia, taking the medication should be stopped immediately. 
During the use of the drug, a woman of childbearing age is prohibited from becoming pregnant, since active substance adversely affect the development of the embryo. It is best to take contraceptive measures at this time.
Driving a car and controlling other devices is quite comparable with the use of the drug, since no negative side effects medicines.
The average price of Albendazole in Russia is relatively low and amounts to 170–250 rubles. The drug has a large list of contraindications and side effects, therefore it is not suitable for all categories of the population. In this case, you can choose a worthy analogue of the drug, similar in general spectrum of action and pharmacological group. Some of the main synonyms for Albendazole are listed below.
The selection of a suitable analogue of Albendozole should be determined by the attending physician who is qualified in this field. Self-replacement of the drug can threaten the appearance of unwanted side effects of the drug and the loss of its effectiveness!
Albendazole is a drug used to infect humans with various types of helminths. The drug is a chemical derivative of benzimidazole carbamate, and its structure is similar to mebendazole.
The principle of action of nemosol is to selectively inhibit the process of beta-tubulin polymerization. The result is the destruction of the cytoplasmic microtubules of the cells of the digestive system of the worms. The drug leads to irreversible changes in the mechanism of biochemical reactions: the breakdown of glucose is suppressed and the synthesis of ATP molecules is stopped, secretory granules and other organelles of muscle tissue cells stop moving. All these processes lead to the death of worms.
Pharmacokinetics
Once in the human digestive system, both albendazole tablets and albendazole suspension are absorbed into the circulatory system in minimal amounts. That is, the drug has a low level of bioavailability (with the exception of patients suffering from liver damage). In the liver, it is almost immediately transformed into albendazole sulfoxide, which, like the active substance of the drug, is characterized by antihelminthic activity. Subsequently, this compound is converted to albendazole sulfone and other oxidation end products.
It is possible to increase the absorption of the drug up to 5 times by eating foods containing a large number of fat. The maximum concentration of albendazole sulfoxide is reached 2–5 hours after application. The half-life of the compound is 8-12 hours. In the case of liver dysfunctions, the concentration of the drug doubles, and the half-life becomes longer. Plasma protein binding is 70%. The main part of the active compound leaves the body with bile, the rest is in the urine. In people with impaired renal function, clearance remains unchanged.
Albendazole acts as an inducer of microsomal enzymes of the cytochrome P-450 (IA) system, and also increases the metabolic rate of many medicines.
Indications for use
The use of the drug is advisable for patients with neurocysticercosis; echinococcosis of the lungs, liver, peritoneum. The drug is used as part of complex therapy with surgical resection of echonococcosis cysts. Albendazole also effectively cope with such types of helminthiasis as ankylostomiasis, noncatoriasis, ascariasis, opisthorchiasis, enterobiasis, trichocephalosis, microsporidiosis, strongyloidiasis, toxocariasis, giardiasis, mixed helminthiasis.
Instructions for use
For children under 2 years of age, the dosages are as follows:
- At neurocysticercosis- 15 mg per 1 kg of body weight per day. The duration of treatment is 8 days. In the absence of complete recovery, the course is repeated.
- In case of illness ascariasis, hookworm or enterobiasis- 200 mg is taken as a single dose. Repeat - after 3 weeks (if necessary).
- When cestodosis and strongyloidosis it is recommended to take albendazole 200 mg once a day for 3 days.
For other patients, the doses are different:
- At neurocysticercosis- 15 mg of nemosol per 1 kg of body weight per day (divided into 2 doses). The duration of therapy is up to 1 month. When echinococcosis the dose is the same, and the duration of treatment is three 28-day courses with 2-week breaks.
- At enterobiasis, trichocephalosis, ascariasis and ankylostomiasis- one-time 400 mg.
- At cestodosis, giardiasis and strongyloidiasis- 400 mg 3 days in a row.
- At toxocariasis: if the body weight is more than 60 kg - one-time 400 mg, if less than 60 kg - 200 mg. Until the age of 14, the dose is calculated as follows: 10 mg per 1 kg of body weight twice a day for 1 to 2 weeks.
Contraindications
Contraindications for the appointment of nemosol are: individual intolerance to the drug, damage to the eye retina, decreased hematopoietic function, liver disease. In addition, it is not recommended to take the medicine for children under 2 years of age, as well as during pregnancy and lactation.
special instructions
When treating nemosol, blood donation is required at the beginning of each cycle of taking the medication and every 14 days during treatment. Therapy is discontinued if leukopenia develops. When taking high doses, medical monitoring of the liver is required. In case of eye disease with neurocysticercosis, a preliminary examination of the retina is carried out.
Storage of the drug
Store albendazole in a dark, dry place. Temperature - below + 25 ° С.
Drug price
Albendazole is available over the counter. Released with a prescription. The cost of the medicine varies between 195 - 345 rubles in Russia, 19500 - 22500 in Belarus and 7.5 - 132 hryvnia in Ukraine.
Analogs
Analogs are drugs that belong to the first pharmacological subgroup and have a similar mechanism of action. Albendazole analogs:
- mebendazole;
- vermox;
- medamine;
- vormin.
And many others. The drug Albendazole was developed and included in the main list of medicinal substances of the World Health Organization in 1975.
Albendazole damages and destroys intestinal cells. Polymerization of tubulin is suppressed, destruction of cytoplasmic cells and microchannels in the intestinal tract occurs. The action of the drug is based on changes in biochemical processes: glucose utilization slows down, ATP synthesis is inhibited, and the passage of secretory granules is blocked.
The actions of the drug on nematodes and cestodes are positively assessed. The drug albendazole is used for polyinfections and monoinfections.
Instructions for the use of albendazole
The dosage for treatment is calculated on the basis of the person's body weight.
Instructions for use in neurocysticercosis and echinococcosis
In case of neurocysticercosis and patients weighing less than 60 kg, 15 mg of the substance per 1 kg of body weight is prescribed twice a day. Patients weighing more than 60 kg are prescribed 400 mg twice a day. For treatment, three courses of 28 days each are carried out, but with a mandatory sustained interval of 14 days. Treatment of neurocysticercosis, depending on the severity, is prescribed from 8 to 30 days, be sure to follow the instructions for use and consult your doctor!
For the treatment of neurocysticercosis, anticonvulsants are prescribed to the main drug albendazole, if necessary, and corticosteroids are prescribed intravenously or orally to the patient at the beginning of treatment.
Application for ascariasis, trichocephalosis, enterobiasis and ankylostomiasis
For treatment, and patients are prescribed 400 mg once a day with a weight of at least 20 kg. If necessary, a second course of therapy is prescribed in 2-3 weeks. Children weighing less than 20 kg are prescribed 200 mg of the drug. With albendazole, take 400 mg once a day for three days.
Dosage for filariasis
For treatment, 400 mg of albendazole is prescribed twice a day. The course is held within 10 days.
Application for entercolitis and toxocariasis
For the treatment of enterocolitis, 400 mg of albendazole is taken once a day. For treatment, take the drug twice a day, 400 mg. The course of therapy is 5 days. Sometimes the treatment is extended up to 20 days.
Strongyloidiasis treatment
The course of treatment is 7 days, 400 mg of the drug twice a day. The same dosage is taken for trichinosis lasting from 8 to 14 days. With microsporidosis, the drug is prescribed for adults twice a day at 400 mg, for children it is recommended that 15 mg of the drug per 1 kg of body weight twice a day.
Hepatic flukes
When the body is infected with hepatic flukes, albendazole is prescribed once a day with a dosage calculated for 1 kg of body weight 10 mg of the drug, the course is seven days.
Cysticercosis
When taking 400 mg of albendazole twice a day. V childhood It is recommended to take 15 mg of the drug per 1 kg of body weight twice a day. The duration of treatment ranges from 8 to 30 days.
Giardiasis
For the treatment of giardiasis, 200 mg is prescribed twice a day. The recommended dosage for children is 10-15 mg per 1 kg of body weight, the course of treatment is 7 days.
In veterinary medicine
albendazole is widely used, but it is imperative to observe the dosage suitable for the weight and type of animal, carefully read the instructions for use for animals: 
- dogs and cats 0.25 g / 8 kg;
- cattle 0.5 g / 50 kg;
- small cattle 0.5 g / 80 kg;
- birds 0.5 g / 50 kg;
- pigs, 0.5 g / 40 kg;
- horses, 0.5 g / 100 kg.
For more information, see the instructions for use of albendazole for animals.
Contraindications
The drug albendazole is contraindicated in pregnant and lactating women.
With long-term use of the drug, in order to avoid unwanted side effects, it is necessary to take breaks for at least two weeks.
Side effects
When taking albendazole, the following side effects are possible:
Allergy is possible. In the practice of treatment, there have been cases of acute liver failure after undergoing a course of therapy.
After taking albendazole, undesirable effects are expressed in the development of:
- leukopenia;
- pancytopeia;
- agranulocytosis;
- dyspepsia.
Interaction with other drugs
Drugs that lower the concentration of albendazole in plasma:
- carbamazepine;
- phenytoin;
- phenobarbital.
When albendazole is taken together with cimetidine, the half-life is increased and the serum concentration of the agent increases, which causes the high efficiency of albendazole in severe disease.
Trade names and value (price)
Everything medications on the basis of albendazole, they are produced in the form of tablets, suspensions, capsules, chewing candies have been developed for children. The drug is sold in pharmacies, and you can buy it with a doctor's prescription. In Russia, the cost of the drug varies from 195 to 345 rubles, in the Republic of Belarus from 19,500 to 22,500 Belarusian rubles, and in Ukraine from 7.5 to 132 hryvnias.