ALBENDAZOLE

Antibacterial Activity

Use of treatment of parenchymal neurocysticercosis and cystic hydatid disease of the liver, lung, and peritoneum
Active against:
Ascaris lumbricoides (roundworm)
Ancylostoma duodenale, Necator americanus; (hookworms)
Enterobius vermicularis; (pinworm)
Hymenolepis nana, Taenia sp; (tapeworms)
Opisthorchis sinensis, Opisthorchis viverrini, Clonorchis sinensis, Giardia lamblia, Cysticercus cellulosae, Echinococcus granulosus, Echinococcus multilocularis, and Toxocara sp; (liver flukes)
Strongyloides stercoralis, Trichuris trichiura; (whipworm) Clonorchis sinensis, Giardia lamblia, Cysticercus cellulosae, Echinococcus granulosus, Echinococcus multilocularis, and Toxocara sp

Pregnancy Risk Factor

Category C

Contraindication/Precaution

Hypersensitivity to albendazole or any component
Do not use if pregnant
Patients should not become pregnant for at least 1 month following cessation of albendazole therapy
Use caution in the presence of retinal lesions
Use caution if nursing
Patients being treated for neurocysticercosis should receive appropriate steroid and anticonvulsant therapy as required
Since Tx can cause occasional (less than 1%) granulocytopenia, agranulocytosis, or pancytopenia, blood count should be monitored
Liver function should be monitored while Tx

Mechanism of Action

The active metabolite causes selective degeneration of cytoplasmic microtubules of intestinal helminths and larvae their glycogen/glucose is depleted and cholinesterase secretion are impaired, finally ATP production decreases causing death

Pharmacodynamics/Kinetics

Metabolism: 
liver
Half-life: 
8-12 hours
Elimination: 
excreted  in bile

Dosage

Giardiasis: 

Adults: 
400 mg PO qd for 3 days

Hydatid disease:

<60 kg: (maximum: 800 mg/day) 15 mg/kg/day PO div bid with meals  for three 28-day cycles with 14-day drug-free interval in-between >60 kg: 
400 mg PO bid for three 28-day cycles with 14-day drug-free interval in-between

Neurocysticercosis:

<60 kg: (maximum: 800 mg/day) 15 mg/kg/day PO div bid with meals for 8-30 days >60 kg: 
400 mg PO bid with meals for 8-30 days
Note: Give concurrent anticonvulsant and steroid therapy during first week

Strongyloidiasis/tapeworm/hookworm/pinworm,/roundworm:

<2 years:  200 mg PO qd for 3 days (may repeat in 3 weeks) >2 years and Adults: 
400 mg PO qd for 3 days (may repeat in 3 weeks)

Dosage In Renal Failure

Creatinine clearance (ml/min):
N/A
Dialysis
Hemo: N/A
CAPD: N/A