Egaten
Egaten (triclabendazole) is a medication used to treat fascioliasis, an infection caused by liver flukes, a type of parasitic worm. It's FDA-approved for use in children and adults 6 years and older. Egaten (triclabendazole) comes in 250 mg tablets and is a short treatment made up of two doses taken by mouth, 12 hours apart. Common side effects include stomach pain and nausea. It has many potential interactions with other medications so it's best to review a current list of your medications with your care team.
What is Egaten (triclabendazole)?
What is Egaten (triclabendazole) used for?
- Fascioliasis in people 6 years of age or older
How Egaten (triclabendazole) works
Egaten (triclabendazole) is an anthelminthic. The way it works to treat fascioliasis isn't fully understood. But it's believed the medication kills the worms by disrupting vital processes for their survival, such as movement and reproduction.
Drug facts
Side effects of Egaten (triclabendazole)
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
- Stomach pain (93%)
- Excessive sweating (25%)
- Nausea (18%)
- Reduced appetite (18%)
- Headache (14%)
- Hives (11%)
- Vomiting (7%)
- Diarrhea (7%)
Less Common Side Effects
- Shortness of breath
- Weakness
- Chest pain or discomfort
- Cough
- Fever
- Yellowing of skin or whites of the eyes
- Feeling like you're spinning (vertigo)
- Itching
Egaten (triclabendazole) serious side effects
Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.
- Heart rhythm problems (QT prolongation): abnormal heart rhythm, chest pain, shortness of breath, fainting, lightheadedness
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Pros and cons of Egaten (triclabendazole)
Pros
- Treatment of choice for fascioliasis
- Only need to take two doses
- Tablets can be cut in half or crushed and mixed with applesauce
- FDA approved for people 6 years and older
Cons
- Commonly causes stomach pain and nausea
- Only stable for 4 hours if it's mixed with applesauce
- Must be taken with food
- No lower-cost generic available
Pharmacist tips for Egaten (triclabendazole)
- Take Egaten (triclabendazole) with food. Food raises the amount of medication that gets absorbed into your body and helps the medication stay in your body longer in order to fight the infection.
- Make sure to take both doses of Egaten (triclabendazole) as prescribed. Taking only one dose can cause your infection to not be treated properly.
- Egaten (triclabendazole) can cause an abnormal heart rhythm, which can be dangerous. Let your prescriber know if you experience a fluttering sensation in your chest or feel faint.
- Tell your prescriber if you're pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding before taking Egaten (triclabendazole), because it's not known if this medication can harm your unborn or breastfed baby.
Common questions about Egaten (triclabendazole)
Fascioliasis is an infection caused by a liver fluke, a type of parasitic worm. People can become infected by eating raw foods, like watercress or other freshwater vegetables, or by drinking contaminated water that contains the parasite. To avoid fascioliasis, make sure your food is properly cooked and drink water from a safe source when traveling. There is no vaccine to protect against fascioliasis.
Yes. Egaten (triclabendazole) is FDA approved in the US to treat fascioliasis in children and adults 6 years and older. While it's rare, people can become infected with fascioliasis in the US. Most cases, however, are from those who were infected in countries where fascioliasis is more common.
Yes. Egaten (triclabendazole) tablets can be either swallowed whole, split in half and taken with water, or crushed and given with applesauce. If you crush the tablets and mix it with applesauce, make sure to take it within 4 hours.
There are very limited treatments for fascioliasis, and currently, Egaten (triclabendazole) is the only medication approved for this condition. Older medications, such as emetine and bithionol, are no longer used because they're not as safe or might not be available on the market. Other medications belonging to the group of medications known as anthelminthics aren't approved to treat fascioliasis.
There were a variety of studies that tested how well Egaten (triclabendazole) works for fascioliasis. The cure rate 60 days after taking the recommended dose of the medication was about 96%. This means there were no Fasciola eggs present in the stool.
There isn't enough information to know how safe Egaten (triclabendazole) is to take during pregnancy. Discuss the risks and benefits of this medication with your care team if you're pregnant.
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Risks and warnings for Egaten (triclabendazole)
Egaten (triclabendazole) 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.
Heart rhythm problems (QT prolongation)
- Risk factors: History of QT prolongation | Taking medications that can cause QT prolongation | Liver problems | Electrolyte imbalance
Egaten (triclabendazole) can raise the risk of a heart rhythm condition called QT prolongation, or long QT syndrome. This is when your heart doesn't contract and relax when it's supposed to, which leads to an abnormal heart rhythm. Your prescriber will order an echocardiogram (ECG) test to check your heart's electrical signals if you have certain health conditions that put you at risk for an abnormal heart rhythm. Call your prescriber right away if you have symptoms such as chest pain, fainting, fluttering in your chest, or a racing heart.
Egaten (triclabendazole) dosage
Package| Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 tablets of 250mg | 1 package | $2.50 | $2.50 |
Typical dosage for Egaten (triclabendazole)
The typical dose is 10 mg/kg of body weight by mouth taken 12 hours apart for two doses.
How much does Egaten (triclabendazole) cost?
$2.50
