• Indications
  1. Tapeworm infections (Hydatid Disease, Neurocysticercosis)
  • Contraindications
  1. Pregnancy
  • Mechanism
  1. Broad-spectrum, synthetic benzimidazole-derivative anthelminth
  2. Albendazole blocks Helminth reproduction and survival
    1. Inhibits formation of microtubules from tubulin
    2. Depletes glycogen stores (by decreasing Glucose uptake)
  • Medications
  1. Albendazole Tablet 200 mg
    1. Tablet may be crushed or chewed
  • Dosing
  • FDA Approved Indications
  1. Hydatid Disease (Echinococcus)
    1. Weight <60 kg: 15 mg/kg/day (up to 800 mg) orally divided twice daily with food
    2. Weight >60 kg: 400 mg orally twice daily with food
  2. Neurocysticercosis
    1. Take 15 mg/kg/day (up to 1200 mg) orally divided twice daily with food for 10 to 14 days
    2. Corticosteroid started before treatment
    3. Multidrug regimens (e.g. with Praziquantel) are used when more than 2 CNS Lesions are present
  • Dosing
  • Unapproved Indications
  1. Hookworm, Whipworm, Pinworm or roundworm (age >=2 years)
    1. Take 400 mg for one dose (for Pinworm, repeat dose in 2 weeks)
  2. Cutaneous Larva Migrans (age >=2 years)
    1. Take 200 mg orally twice daily for 3 day with food (or 400 mg once daily for 3 days)
  3. Giardiasis
    1. Take 400 mg orally daily for 5 days with food
  • Adverse Effects
  1. Serious
    1. Bone Marrow suppression
    2. Increased Liver Function Tests
  • Monitoring
  1. Check Complete Blood Count and Liver Function Tests at start and again every 2 weeks
  • Safety
  1. Unknown safety in Lactation
  2. Contraindicated in pregnancy first trimester (unknown safety in later pregnancy)
  • Resources
  1. Albendazole Tablet (DailyMed)
    1. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=6c48fd89-cb40-477c-8a78-15cbe0df6faa