Albendazole: Indication, Dosage, Side Effect, Precaution

Generic Medicine Info Patient Medicine Information

This information is not country-specific. Please refer to the Indonesia prescribing information.

Generic Medicine Info

Indications and Dosage

Oral
Echinococcosis

Adult: <60 kg: 15 mg/kg daily in 2 divided doses. Max: 800 mg daily. ≥60 kg: 400 mg bid. Administer doses for 28-day cycle followed by a 14-day drug-free interval for a total of 3 cycles.
Child: Same as adult dose.

Oral
Neurocysticercosis

Adult: <60 kg: 15 mg/kg daily in 2 divided doses. Max: 800 mg daily. ≥60 kg 400 mg bid. Duration of treatment: 8-30 days.
Child: Same as adult dose.

Oral
Ascariasis, Enterobiasis, Hookworm infections, Trichuriasis

Adult: 400 mg as a single dose.
Child: 1-2 years 200 mg as a single dose. >2 years Same as adult dose. Max: 200 mg.

Oral
Clonorchiasis, Opisthorchiasis

Adult: 400 mg bid for 3 days. Max: 800 mg daily; 1,200 mg for 3 days. Confirm with your doctor after 1 month if worms have been eradicated.
Child: >2 years Same as adult dose.

Oral
Tapeworm infections

Adult: 400 mg daily for 3 consecutive days. Max: 400 mg daily; 1,200 mg for 3 days. If patient is not cured after 3 weeks, a second course of treatment is needed. In cases of Hymenolepis nana infestations, retreatment in 10-21 days is recommended. Administration information may vary between countries and individual products.
Child: >2 years Same as adult dose.

Oral
Cutaneous larva migrans

Adult: 400 mg once daily for 1-3 days. Max: 400 mg daily; 1,200 mg for 3 days.
Child: >2 years Same as adult dose.

Oral
Giardiasis

Child: 1-12 years 400 mg once daily for 5 days. Max: 400 mg daily; 2,000 mg for 5 days. Administration information may vary between countries and individual products.

Administration

Should be taken with food. For systemic infections, administer w/ high-fat meal to increase absorption. For patients w/ swallowing difficulty, tab may be crushed/chewed.
Should be taken on an empty stomach. For intraluminal infections w/o systemic involvement, take on an empty stomach. For patients w/ swallowing difficulty, tab may be crushed/chewed.

Contraindications

Hypersensitivity. Pregnancy.

Special Precautions

Patient with neurocysticercosis, retinal lesions. May cause inflammatory reaction within the brain. Increased risk of bone marrow suppression in patient with liver disease. Hepatic impairment. Lactation.

Adverse Reactions

Blood and lymphatic system disorders: Leukopenia, neutropenia.
Eye disorders: Blurred vision.
Gastrointestinal disorders: Abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea.
General disorders and administration site conditions: Fever, asthenia.
Hepatobiliary disorders: Mild to moderate hepatic enzyme elevation, hepatitis, acute liver failure.
Musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders: Rhabdomyolysis.
Nervous system disorders: Headache, dizziness, somnolence, convulsion.
Renal and urinary disorders: Acute renal failure.
Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders: Itchiness, rash, alopecia, erythema multiforme, Stevens-Johnson syndrome.
Potentially Fatal: Hypersensitivity reactions e.g. rash, pruritus, urticaria; bone marrow suppression, granulocytopenia, pancytopenia, aplastic anaemia, agranulocytosis.

Pregnancy Category (US FDA)

PO: C

Patient Counseling Information

This drug may cause dizziness, if affected, do not drive or operate machinery. Maintain strict hygiene.

Monitoring Parameters

Monitor LFT and CBC with differential at start of each 28-day cycle and every 2 weeks during therapy. Assess faecal specimens for ova and parasites for 3 weeks after treatment. Obtain baseline ophthalmic exam for retinal lesions. Monitor for cerebral hypertension, focal neurologic deficits, or seizures after initiation of therapy and perform pregnancy test during treatment.

Drug Interactions

May increase plasma concentration with cimetidine, dexamethasone and praziquantel. May decrease serum concentrations with carbamazepine, ritonavir, phenobarbital, and phenytoin.

Food Interaction

Increased serum concentrations with a fatty meal. May increase serum concentrations with grapefruit or grapefruit juice.

Action

Description:
Mechanism of Action: Albendazole, a benzimidazole derivative, is an anthelmintic that inhibits microtubule formation by binding to colchicine sensitive site of β-tubulin resulting to decrease in microtubules leading to decline in glucose uptake and absorptive function and depletion of glycogen storage by adult and larval forms of parasites. Insufficient glucose causes lack of ATP resulting to death of parasite.
Pharmacokinetics:
Absorption: Poorly absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract. Increased serum concentration with a fatty meal. Time to peak serum concentration: 2-5 hours for the metabolite.
Distribution: Widely distributed throughout the body including urine, bile, liver, cyst wall, cyst fluid and CSF. Enters breast milk. Plasma protein binding: 70%.
Metabolism: Undergoes extensive hepatic first pass metabolism via rapid sulfoxidation to albendazole sulphoxide (primary metabolite).
Excretion: Mainly via urine (<1% as active metabolite); faeces. Elimination half-life: 8-12 hours (albendazole sulphoxide).

Chemical Structure

Storage

Store between 20-25°C. Protect from light.

MIMS Class

Anthelmintics

ATC Classification

P02CA03 - albendazole ; Belongs to the class of benzimidazole derivative agents. Used as antinematodal.

References

Albendazole Tablet, Film Coated (Northstar Rx LLC). DailyMed. Source: U.S. National Library of Medicine. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/. Accessed 09/05/2019.

Anon. Albendazole. Lexicomp Online. Hudson, Ohio. Wolters Kluwer Clinical Drug Information, Inc. https://online.lexi.com. Accessed 09/05/2019.

Buckingham R (ed). Albendazole. Martindale: The Complete Drug Reference [online]. London. Pharmaceutical Press. https://www.medicinescomplete.com. Accessed 09/05/2019.

Joint Formulary Committee. Albendazole. British National Formulary [online]. London. BMJ Group and Pharmaceutical Press. https://www.medicinescomplete.com. Accessed 09/05/2019.

Zoben Tablet (Pharmaniaga Manufacturing Berhad). National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency - Ministry of Health Malaysia. https://www.npra.gov.my/. Accessed 09/05/2019.

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