Albendazole
Information about Albendazole
Albendazole uses
Albendazole is used in the treatment of parasitic infections.
How albendazole works
Albendazole is an antiparasitic medication. It works by keeping the worms from absorbing sugar (glucose), thereby depleting their energy level. This causes the worms to die and treats your infection.
Common side effects of albendazole
Vomiting, Dizziness, Increased liver enzymes, Nausea, Headache, Hair loss, Fever, Abdominal pain, Diarrhea, Decreased white blood cell count, Hypersensitivity, Hepatitis (viral infection of liver), Erythema (skin redness), Stevens-Johnson syndrome, Decreased blood cells (red cells, white cells, and platelets), Aplastic anemia, Agranulocytosis (deficiency of granulocytes in the blood)
Available Medicine for Albendazole
Expert advice for Albendazole
- You have been prescribed Albendazole to treat a variety of parasitic worm infections.
- It can be harmful to an unborn baby. Do not take it during pregnancy. Use birth control measures to prevent pregnancy while taking Albendazole.
- Your doctor may monitor your blood counts and liver function before you start taking this medicine and regularly throughout your treatment.
- Avoid being near people who are sick or have infections. Inform your doctor if you develop signs of infection.
- Do not skip doses and finish the prescribed course, even if you start to feel better. Stopping it early may increase your risk of further infection.
Frequently asked questions for Albendazole
Albendazole
Q. Is Albendazole an antibiotic?
Yes, Albendazole is an antibiotic medicine. It is used to treat various infections caused by worms. Albendazole should be taken only when prescribed by the doctor.
Q. What is Albendazole used for?
Albendazole is used for the treatment of infections caused by helminths (worms) like pin worms/thread worms, roundworms, hookworms, whip worms, liver flukes and tapeworm infections. Along with that, the medicine has shown good activity against some organisms that can survive without oxygen too, like Giardia lamblia and Trichomonas vaginalis. Please consult your doctor before taking any treatment for worms as there could be many worms against which Albendazole would not be effective.
Q. How does Albendazole work?
Albendazole works by killing the larva and the adult form of the worm by reducing the energy source (glucose) of the worms. This helps to decrease the mobility of the worms and they die eventually.