Albendazole : Uses, Side Effects, Precautions and Dosage
Albendazole
What is Albendazole?
Albendazole is a prescription medication that works as an anthelmintic (anti-worm) agent. The FDA has approved this drug to treat various parasitic worm infections through its unique way of working. The medicine prevents worms from absorbing sugar (glucose), which causes them to lose energy and die.
How Does Albendazole Work?
Albendazole works through its active form, albendazole sulfoxide, which targets the parasite's cell structure. This compound attaches to the β-tubulin subunit of the worm's microtubules and stops them from forming correctly. The process leads to:
The breakdown of the parasite's intestinal and tegmental cells
Poor glucose use and empty glycogen stores
Blocked activity of essential metabolic enzymes like malate dehydrogenase.
Uses of Albendazole
Albendazole treats many conditions effectively:
Neurocysticercosis (pork tapeworm in the brain)
Hydatid disease from the dog tapeworm
Hookworm, roundworm and whipworm infections
Strongyloidiasis
Giardiasis.
How & When to Take Albendazole
The best way to take albendazole is with fatty foods because this helps your body absorb it better. However, you should take it on an empty stomach to treat intraluminal infections. People who have trouble swallowing can crush or chew the tablets.
Side Effects of Albendazole
Headaches and higher liver enzymes affect some patients. The side effects also include:
Nausea
Fever.
Some rare but serious reactions can happen, such as bone marrow suppression, leukopenia, and pancytopenia. These risks are higher in patients who have liver problems.
Dosage for Albendazole
Adults and children over 2 years - 400 mg twice daily (not exceeding 800 mg per day)
Treatment length varies by condition:
Hydatid disease: 28-day cycles with 14-day breaks between cycles, for a total of 3 cycles
Neurocysticercosis: 8 to 30 days
Simple intestinal worm infections: A single dose usually suffices.
Can I Take Albendazole Daily?
Doctors prescribe daily usage during treatment cycles, but continuous long-term use isn't recommended. The body adapts to prolonged albendazole use by changing its metabolism. CYP1A1 and CYP3A4 enzymes process the drug, which creates albendazole sulfoxide the active metabolite that fights parasites.
Precautions
Your doctor should check your blood counts and liver function before treatment begins and every two weeks during therapy.
This medication poses risks to unborn babies, so pregnant women must avoid it.
Do not consume alcohol while taking this medicine as alcohol increases the risk of the drug's side effects.
Patients with liver or kidney conditions require careful monitoring.
What If You Missed a Dose?
You should take the missed dose when you remember it, unless your next scheduled dose is near. Never take a double dose to make up for a missed one.
What If You Overdose?
Call your doctor if you experience any of the overdose signs. These are:
Severe nausea or vomiting
Persistent abdominal pain or diarrhoea
Caution With Other Drugs: Interactions
The medication interacts with 1many drugs. Key interactions are:
Cimetidine
Dexamethasone
Praziquantel
Phenytonin
Theophylline.
Albendazole vs Mebendazole
Albendazole and mebendazole are both members of the benzimidazole family and have distinct characteristics.
Albendazole shows better overall performance in treating infections. It achieves a higher cure rate for hookworm infections than mebendazole.
Studies show that albendazole is more effective than mebendazole for treating roundworm (Ascaris lumbricoides) infections. However both drugs effectively reduce parasite egg counts in all soil-transmitted helminths.
Doctors often choose albendazole for complex or systemic infections because of its better tissue penetration. They reserve mebendazole for simple intestinal infections, especially in children.
Treatment with albendazole every six months works better than mebendazole regimens. This makes it the preferred choice to control the three main geohelminth infections.
FAQs
FAQs
What is albendazole used for?
Doctors prescribe albendazole to treat parasitic infections. The medication works well against neurocysticercosis (pork tapeworm in the brain), hydatid disease (dog tapeworm infections), and many types of intestinal worm infestations. Some doctors also prescribe it when larvae damage skin or brain tissue.
Which worm infections does albendazole treat?
This medication works against several parasites like roundworms, hookworms, tapeworms, whipworms, pinworms, and flukes. The risk of intestinal worm infestations affects millions of children between the ages of one and fourteen in India alone.
How should albendazole be taken?
Taking albendazole with meals will give a better absorption rate, especially with fatty foods. You can crush or chew the tablets if you have trouble swallowing them. Your treatment will work best when you stick to your doctor's prescribed schedule.
What are the common side effects of albendazole?
Most people experience mild discomfort. Common side effects are:
Vomiting
Nausea
Stomach pain
Increased liver enzymes.
Can albendazole affect liver function?
Of course many patients show mild-to-moderate liver enzyme changes. Severe liver toxicity happens rarely but could lead to liver failure. Your doctor needs to monitor your liver function throughout the treatment.
Is albendazole safe for children?
The medication has proven quite safe. Children under 2 years need a doctor's evaluation before taking the medication.
Can albendazole be taken during pregnancy?
Albendazole is not recommended during pregnancy because it can harm unborn babies. Pregnant women should seek alternatives since the medication has shown evidence of causing embryotoxicity and skeletal malformations in animal studies. Women should use effective birth control during treatment and for 3 days after the final dose. The World Health Organisation permits albendazole use only in the 2nd and 3rd trimesters of pregnancy if benefits outweigh risks.
How long does albendazole take to kill worms?
Adult Ascaris worms die completely about 10 days after treatment. A single tablet kills pinworms, but their eggs can survive for weeks. You should wait at least 2 weeks after treatment before follow-up testing to get accurate results.
Do worms come back after albendazole treatment?
Reinfection remains a possibility. Reinfection rates in endemic areas reach 80% within 6 months. Patients may still carry immature parasites because albendazole kills only adult worms but not larvae.
When should I repeat albendazole or see a doctor?
Most intestinal worm infections need a second dose two weeks after the original treatment to prevent reinfection. Healthcare providers might recommend these steps for persistent infections:
Re-evaluation after 3 months if living in endemic areas
Three-dose regimens at 2-week intervals for stubborn cases
