Worms Medicines for Humans: Prescription and OTC options
Learn about antiparasitic medications for treating worm infections in humans, how anthelmintic drugs work to kill worms, infections they treat, and more.
albendazole
Used for Parasitic Infection
Used for Parasitic Infection
Albendazole is a prescription antihelmintic medication that's used to treat certain tapeworm infections in adults and children, including neurocysticercosis and hydatid disease. It comes as a tablet that's taken by mouth with food, usually twice a day for several days or weeks, depending on the infection. Common side effects include headache, stomach pain, nausea, and vomiting.
What is Albendazole?
What is Albendazole used for?
- Neurocysticercosis (tapeworm infection affecting the brain)
- Hydatid disease (tapeworm infection that causes cysts in many organs)
How Albendazole works
Albendazole is an antihelmintic, a type of medication that treats parasitic worm infections. It works by damaging tiny structures inside the worms called microtubules, which they need to absorb nutrients. This prevents the worms from absorbing glucose (sugar) for energy. Without enough energy, the worms eventually die.
When does Albendazole start working?Time passed since treatment started:
Drug facts
| Common Brands | Albenza |
|---|---|
| Drug Class | Antiparasitic |
| Controlled Substance Classification | Not a controlled medication |
| Generic Status | Lower-cost generic available |
| Availability | Prescription only |
Side effects of Albendazole
The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.
Common Side Effects
Neurocysticercosis:
- Headache (11%)
- Nausea (6%)
- Vomiting (6%)
Hydatid Disease:
- Changes to liver blood tests (16%)
- Stomach pain (6%)
- Nausea (4%)
- Vomiting (4%)
Less Common Side Effects
- Fever
- Dizziness
- Headache
- Vertigo
- Brain inflammation
- Hairloss
Albendazole serious side effects
Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.
- Low number of blood cells: tiredness, pale skin, frequent fevers, unexplained bruising, chills
- Liver damage: stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, yellowing of the skin or eyes, dark urine, reduced appetite
When do Albendazole possible side effects begin and end?
Time passed since treatment started:
H
D
W
M
Changes to liver blood tests
If a line continues to the right, you'll likely keep experiencing this side effect once it starts.
The following Albendazole side effects have also been reported
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
Less common
Rare
Black, tarry stools
bleeding gums
blood in the urine or stools
chills
painful or difficult urination
pinpoint red spots on the skin
sores, ulcers, or white spots on the lips or in the mouth
swollen glands
unusual bleeding or bruising
unusual tiredness or weakness
Incidence not known
Blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin
blurred vision
dark urine
general feeling of tiredness or weakness
headache
joint or muscle pain
light-colored stools
red, irritated eyes
seizures
stomach pain, continuing
tightness in the chest
vomiting
yellow eyes or skin
Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
More common
Stomach pain
Less common
Rare
Dizziness
thinning or loss of the hair
Incidence not known
Lack or loss of strength
Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Pros and cons of Albendazole
Pros
- Works well to treat certain types of tapeworm infections
- Can be swallowed whole, chewed, or crushed
- Safe for children and adults
Cons
- Might need to take it for a long time (weeks to months)
- Can cause liver damage
- Maybe not safe in pregnancy
Pharmacist tips for Albendazole
- Take albendazole with meals. Food helps your body absorb the medication so it can work better.
- Finish your full course of albendazole, even if you start feeling better. Stopping treatment too early might leave some parasites alive and prevent your infection from fully clearing.
- You can swallow albendazole tablets whole, chew them, or crush them and swallow them with water. This can make the medication easier to take if you have trouble swallowing pills.
- Keep up with your blood tests while taking albendazole. Your care team will check your blood cell counts and liver health before treatment and at least every 2 weeks during longer treatment courses.
- If you're taking albendazole for neurocysticercosis, you might also need a corticosteroid and seizure medication. These medications help lower your risk of brain swelling and seizures as the parasites die.
- Albendazole can interact with several medications, so tell your care team about everything you take. Medications like dexamethasone and praziquantel can raise its levels in your body, while seizure medications like carbamazepine and phenytoin can lower them.
- Pregnancy: Albendazole can harm an unborn baby and generally isn't recommended during pregnancy. Use reliable birth control during treatment and for at least 3 days after your last dose. Tell your prescriber right away if you become pregnant while taking the medication.
Risks and warnings for Albendazole
Albendazole can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Low blood cell counts
- Risk factors: Liver problems | Tapeworm infection in the liver
Albendazole can cause your bone marrow to make fewer blood cells. This can lead to serious problems, such as anemia, infections, or bleeding. In rare cases, these problems can be life-threatening.
Your care team will check your blood cell counts before each 28-day treatment cycle and every 2 weeks during treatment. Tell them right away if you develop fever, unusual tiredness, frequent infections, or easy bruising or bleeding. Your prescriber might stop the medication if your blood cell counts drop too low.
Harm to unborn babies
Albendazole caused harm to unborn babies in animal studies, so it might not be safe during pregnancy. If you can become pregnant, your care team will likely recommend a pregnancy test before starting treatment. Use birth control while taking the medication and for at least 3 days after your last dose. If you become pregnant during treatment, stop taking albendazole and contact your prescriber right away.
Brain swelling and seizures
- Risk factors: Using albendazole to treat neurocysticercosis
When albendazole kills tapeworms in your brain, it can cause inflammation and swelling. This can lead to serious problems, such as seizures, increased pressure in your brain, or other nerve-related symptoms.
If you're taking albendazole for neurocysticercosis, your care team will also prescribe a corticosteroid to lower inflammation and a seizure medication to help prevent seizures.
Eye damage
- Risk factors: Using albendazole to treat neurocysticercosis | Having tapeworm larvae in your retina
If you have neurocysticercosis, tapeworms might also infect your eyes. When albendazole kills these parasites, it can cause inflammation that might damage your retina (the part of your eye that helps you see). This could lead to vision problems or even vision loss.
Before starting albendazole for neurocysticercosis, your care team will check your eyes for signs of infection. If parasites are found in your eyes, your prescriber will weigh the risks and benefits of treatment to help protect your vision.
Liver damage
- Risk factors: Liver problems
Albendazole can raise your liver enzyme levels, which might be a sign of liver damage. For most people, these changes to your liver are mild, and your liver will go back to normal once you stop taking albendazole. In some rare cases, albendazole can cause liver failure, which can be life-threatening.
Your care team will check your liver health with blood tests before each treatment cycle and at least every 2 weeks during treatment. Tell them right away if you develop unusual tiredness, nausea, stomach pain, dark urine, or yellowing of your skin or eyes. Your prescriber might stop the medication if your liver enzyme levels become too high.
Hidden tapeworm infection in the brain
Albendazole can sometimes uncover a tapeworm infection in the brain (neurocysticercosis) that you didn't know you had. When the medication kills these parasites, it can cause swelling in your brain and lead to symptoms such as headaches or seizures.
Tell your care team if you've lived in or traveled to areas where tapeworm infections are common. They might need to check for neurocysticercosis before starting treatment.
Albendazole dosage
The average cost for 4 tablets of 200mg of Albendazole is $27.58 with a free GoodRx coupon. This is 95.03% off the average retail price of $554.85. 
Tablet
Tablet| Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 200mg | 4 tablets | $27.58 | $6.90 |
Interactions between Albendazole and other drugs
Albendazole may interact with certain medications or supplements. Always let your doctor and pharmacist know about any other medications or supplements (including prescribed and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and dietary or herbal supplements) that you are currently taking. The list below does not include all possible drug interactions with Albendazole. Please note that only the generic name of each medication is listed below.
Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. Tell your healthcare professional if you are taking any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine.
How much does Albendazole cost?
To access savings, use a GoodRx coupon and pay just a fraction of the retail price.
Albendazole (generic)
$27.58
Albendazole contraindications
Contraindications are specific health conditions or situations in which a person should not take a medication due to safety concerns. If you have any of the following conditions or if any of the following apply to you, let your healthcare provider know because Albendazole will not be safe for you to take.
- Allergy to benzimidazole medications, such as Emverm (mebendazole) and omeprazole
What are alternatives to Albendazole?
There are a number of medications that your doctor can prescribe in place of Albendazole. Compare a few possible alternatives below.
News about Albendazole
Albendazole images
