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Common name
Albenza (Albendazole)
Description
Albenza (Albendazole)is an "antihelmintic or anti-worm drug.Albenza (Albendazole)prevents worms from growing or multiplying in your body. Albenza (Albendazole)is used to treat infections caused by worms such as pork tapeworm and dog tapeworm.
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Active Ingredients:
Albendazole
Therapeutic actions:
Albendazole exhibits larvicidal, ovicidal and vermicidal activity, and is thought to exert its anthelmintic effect by inhibiting tubulin polymerization. This causes a cascade of metabolism disruption, including energy depletion, which immobilises then kills the susceptible helminth.
Indications:
Albenza is used to clear worms or parasites from the gut and other tissues. Albenza is effective in a number of different conditions caused by parasites including hydatid disease and eurocysticercosis. Albenza (albendazole) is effective in the long term treatment of tissue helminth infections, including hydatid disease (echinococcosis), caused by infestation with the tapeworm, Echinococcus granulosus. Albenza is also effective in the treatment of larval Taenia solium infection (cysticercosis), particularly where there is neurological involvement (neurocysticercosis) Your doctor may have prescribed Eskazole for another reason. Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why Albenza has been prescribed for you.
Contraindications and cautions:
Albenza should not be administered during pregnancy or in women thought to be pregnant. Albenza has been shown to be teratogenic and embryotoxic in rats and rabbits. Women of childbearing age should be advised to take effective precautions against conception during and within one month of completion of treatment with Albenza.
Albenza is contraindicated in persons who are known to be hypersensitive to albendazole, other benzimidazole derivatives, or any component of the tablets. There is limited experience of use of Albenza in children under six years of age, therefore use in this age group is not recommended.
In patients with hydatid disease, liver function tests should be obtained before the start of each treatment cycle and at least every two weeks during treatment. Patients with disturbed liver function tests prior to commencing albendazole therapy should be carefully evaluated, since the drug is metabolised by the liver and has been associated with idiosyncratic hepatotoxicity. In patients with hepatic hydatidosis, it should be determined whether the underlying disease or another process is affecting liver function. If enzymes are significantly increased (greater than twice the upper limit of normal) during treatment, Albenza should be discontinued. Albenza treatment may be reinstituted when levels have returned to normal limits, but liver function should be monitored frequently during repeat therapy.
Albenza has been occasionally associated with reversible modest reductions in total white cell counts in patients with hydatid disease. In hydatid disease patients blood counts should be performed at the start and every two weeks during each 28 day treatment cycle. Albenza may be continued if the decrease appears modest and does not progress. In patients treated with Albenza for hydatid disease, appropriate long term monitoring should be considered, since approximately 14% of patients followed for 2 years developed recurrent cysts
Side effects:
Medicines and their possible side effects can affect individual people in different ways. The following are some of the side effects that are known to be associated with this medicine. Because a side effect is stated here, it does not mean that all people using this medicine will experience that or any side effect.
Most unwanted effects following Albenza are mild, and may disappear without stopping Albenza. However, some side effects may need medical treatment.
Tell the doctor about any effect which is troublesome or ongoing.
Mild effects: Tell your doctor if you notice any of the following that are troublesome or ongoing:
headache or dizziness
vomiting or feeling sick or stomach pains
mild skin rash
thinning of the hair or some hair loss. This has been reported rarely. However, hair growth returns to normal after the tablets are stopped.
More serious effects: Tell your doctor immediately if you notice any of the following:
unusual bleeding or bruising
yellowing of the skin and eyes also called jaundice
fever
Stop taking Albenza and contact a doctor immediately or go to the emergency department of your nearest hospital if any of the following happens:
swelling of limbs, face, mouth or throat
shortness of breath or breathing difficulties
hives or severe skin reactions
These are signs of a severe allergic reaction to Albenza. Allergy to Albenza is rare. If you are receiving Albenza for neurocysticercosis you may experience a worsening of your symptoms (such as headache and high temperature) when you first start to take Albenza. Other rare events that have been reported with Albenza include:
inflammation of the pancreas
severe liver effects
effects on the eyes
blood disorders
You should tell the doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible if any of these, or any other unusual events or problems occur during or after treatment with Albenza.
The side effects listed above may not include all of the side effects reported by the drug's manufacturer. For more information about any other possible risks associated with this medicine, please read the information provided with the medicine or consult your doctor or pharmacist.
Interactions:
It is important to tell your doctor or pharmacist what medicines you are already taking, including those bought without a prescription and herbal medicines, before you start treatment with this medicine. Similarly, check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any new medicines while taking this one, to ensure that the combination is safe.
Cimetidine, praziquantel and dexamethasone have been reported to increase the plasma levels of the albendazole active metabolite
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