Mebendazole: functions, dosage, side effects, how to use it

What drug Mebendazole?

What is Mebendazole for?

Mebendazole is an antihelmintic (worm medicine) which is effective in helping fight and eradicate various types of worms that breed in the digestive tract.

Worms itself is a disease commonly experienced by children. Even so, worm infections can also be experienced by adults who eat contaminated and undercooked food so they don't maintain good personal hygiene.

It can be used as a first-line treatment for infections caused by whipworms, pinworms, roundworms and hookworms. This medication is also used to treat infections caused by more than one of these worms at the same time.

Mebendazole works by preventing worms from absorbing blood sugar, which is their food source. By taking this medicine, the adult worms in the digestive tract will starve until they die.

How do I use Mebendazole?

Medicines can be taken before or after meals. Ask your doctor and pharmacist when is the best time to take it.

Mebendazole tablets can be swallowed, chewed, or crushed and mixed with food. In order to make it easier to swallow the whole drug and reduce bad taste in the mouth, drink a glass of water immediately after consuming it.

Use the dosage of medication prescribed by your doctor or instructed in the package pack. Do not add or take medication doses carelessly. Taking drugs that are not according to the rules can increase the risk of dangerous side effects.

Even if you feel that you have improved somewhat, keep using this medicine until the time limit specified by your doctor or that is stated on the drug packaging label. Stopping the drug suddenly can decrease the effectiveness of the drug or even trigger side effects.

It will take about 3 days of treatment before the worms finally disappear from your stomach and intestines. Even so, the length of this treatment process may vary from person to person. Because, this depends on the health condition and the patient's response to the treatment they are undergoing.

Fasting, taking laxatives, or forcing yourself to vomit will not kill worms in your digestive tract. In order to get maximum results, use this drug as directed.

If the infection has not cleared up within 3 weeks, you should see a doctor immediately. Your doctor can prescribe other drugs that are more effective and suitable for your condition.

Basically, take this medication exactly as directed by your doctor or the instructions on the package package. Understand the information carefully and thoroughly. If you don't understand how to use it, don't hesitate to ask your doctor and pharmacist directly.

How do I store Mebendazole?

This medication is best stored at room temperature, away from direct light and damp places. Don't keep it in the bathroom. Don't freeze it.

Other brands of this drug may have different storage rules. Observe the storage instructions on the product package or ask your pharmacist. Keep all medicines away from children and pets.

Do not flush medicines down the toilet or down the drain unless instructed to do so. Discard this product when it has expired or when it is no longer needed.

Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company about how to safely dispose of your product.

Mebendazole dosage

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor or pharmacist before starting treatment.

What is the Mebendazole dosage for adults?

The dosage of Mebendazale for adults, namely:

• Ascariasis: 100 mg orally 2 times a day for 3 days.
• Hookworm infection: 100 mg orally twice daily for 3 days.
• Whipworm infection : 100 mg orally twice a day for 3 days.
• Pinworm infection : 100 mg taken by mouth once. This dose must be repeated for 2 weeks.
• Trichinosis: 200 to 400 mg taken three times daily for 3 days, then 400 to 500 mg three times daily for 10 days.

The dosage for each person may be different. Doctors usually determine the appropriate drug dosage based on the patient's age, overall health condition, and their response to treatment.

Be sure to always consult a doctor before taking any type of medication. This is solely to ensure that you are taking the drug according to the recommended dosage.

What is the dosage of Mebendazole for children?

The dosage of the drug Mebendazole below is specifically for children who are over 2 years of age. We recommend that you consult your doctor to find out the dosage of deworming medicine that is safe for children under 2 years of age.

• Ascariasis: 100 mg orally 2 times a day for 3 days.
• Filariasis: 100 mg orally once. This dose must be repeated for 2 weeks.
• Capillariasis: 200 mg taken twice daily for 20 days. If a relapse can be treated with a long therapy.
• Hookworm infection: 100 mg orally twice daily for 3 days.
• Whipworm infection : 100 mg orally twice a day for 3 days.
• Pinworm infection : 100 mg taken by mouth once. This dose must be repeated for 2 weeks.
• Trichinosis: 200 to 400 mg taken three times daily for 3 days, then 400 to 500 mg three times daily for 10 days.

The dosage of drugs for children under 2 years of age is adjusted according to their body weight, health condition, and response to treatment. Don't hesitate to ask the doctor directly about the exact dosage of deworming medicine that is safe for your baby.

In what dosage is Mebendazole available?

This drug is available in the form of chewable tablets with a strength of 100 mg.

Mebendazole side effects

What side effects can be experienced due to Mebendazole?

Just like drugs in general, this drug also has the potential to cause side effects from mild to severe. Some of the side effects that are most often complained of after taking this drug include:

• Stomach ache
• Gag
• Diarrhea
• Dizzy
• Mild headaches
• Sleepy
• Itchy
• Decreased appetite
• Bloated

In very rare cases, this drug may cause serious side effects which are characterized by:

• Severe stomach pain
• Bleeding / bruising
• Signs of serious infection (for example, fever and severe sore throat)
• The body feels very weak, lethargic, and weak
• Dark or pink urine
• Eyes and skin turn yellow (jaundice)
• Seizures
• Loss of consciousness (fainting)

This drug may rarely cause serious allergic reactions in the user's body. However, if this happens, check with your doctor immediately for further assistance. Some of the symptoms of a serious allergic reaction that need to be aware of include:

• Rash
• Itching in part or all over the body
• Swelling of the face, tongue and throat
• Severe dizziness
• Difficulty breathing
• Hard to breathe

Not everyone experiences these side effects. There may be some side effects not listed above. If you have any concerns regarding side effects, please consult your doctor or pharmacist.

Mebendazole Drug Warnings and Cautions

What should be known before using Mebendazole?

Before using this drug, there are several things that need to be known and done, including:

• Tell your doctor if you have a history of allergies to Mebendazole or other anti-worm drugs.
• Tell your doctor if you have recently been taking certain medications regularly. Whether it's prescription drugs, non-prescription drugs, to herbal medicines. Drugs such as Carbamazepine (Tegretol) and phenytoin (Dilantin) are known to interact with the drug mebendazole.
• Tell your doctor if you plan to become pregnant and are pregnant.
• You should not breastfeed while using this medicine. Because, this drug can pass into breast milk so that it may harm your baby. Please consult a doctor for more information.
• Tell your doctor if you have a history of liver and kidney disease.
• Tell your doctor if you have a history of indigestion.

Mebendazole can cause dizziness and lightheadedness for some people. Get up slowly from a lying or sitting position. Then, place your feet on the floor for a few minutes before standing up.

Treatment time usually takes about 3 days. While the time it takes to cure the infection depends on the health condition and the patient's response to treatment.

However, if the infection has not cleared up within 3 weeks, you should see a doctor immediately. Your doctor can recommend other worm medication that is more effective and safer for your condition.

In addition, awareness of personal hygiene from family members and the surrounding environment is needed. The reason is, pinworms are very easily spread from an infected person to those around them.

So, therefore, to prevent transmission, spray the toilet with a disinfectant every day. Both people who are in good health and people with infections are strongly advised to wash their hands regularly, especially before eating and after defecating / urinating. Wash the patient's dirty clothes, sheets, and towels separately.

Is Mebendazole safe for pregnant and lactating women?

There are no adequate studies regarding the risks of using this drug in pregnant or breastfeeding women. Always consult your doctor to weigh the potential benefits and risks before using this medication.

This drug is included in the risk of pregnancy category C according to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the equivalent of the Food and Drug Administration (BPOM) in Indonesia.

The following references the pregnancy risk categories according to the FDA:

• A = Not at risk
• B = No risk in several studies
• C = May be risky
• D = There is positive evidence of risk
• X = Contraindicated
• N = Unknown

Meanwhile, for breastfeeding mothers, this drug can pass into breast milk so that it has the potential to harm your little one. To avoid various negative possibilities, do not take this medicine carelessly or without the doctor's permission.

Mebendazole Drug Interactions

What medicines may interact with Mebendazole?

Drug interactions can change the performance of your medications or increase the risk of serious side effects. Not all possible drug interactions are listed in this article.

Keep a list of all the products you use (including prescription / non-prescription drugs and herbal products) and consult your doctor or pharmacist. Do not start, stop, or change the dose of any medication without your doctor's approval.

Some of the drugs that can reduce the effectiveness of the drug mebendazole include:

• Carbamazepine
• Cimetidine
• Ethotoin
• Fosphenytoin
• Mephenytoin
• Metronidazole
• Phenytoin
• Sodium iodide i-123
• Sodium iodide-i-131

There may be other drugs that have not been mentioned above. Ask directly about drugs that can interact with this drug. Don't forget to tell your doctor and pharmacist about all the medicines you are taking and will be regularly taking.

Can food or alcohol interact with Mebendazole?

Certain medications should not be used during or around the time of eating or consuming certain types of food because interactions can occur.

Using alcohol or tobacco with certain drugs can also cause interactions. Talk to your health care professional about drug use with food, alcohol, or tobacco.

What health conditions may interact with Mebendazole?

The presence of other medical problems can affect the use of this drug. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Hypersensitivity to the drug mebendazole
• Kidney illness
• Liver disease
• Digestive disorders such as ulcerative colitis
• Pregnant and breastfeeding women

If you have concerns about certain medical conditions, do not hesitate to consult a doctor directly.

Mebendazole overdose

What should I do in an emergency or overdose?

In case of an emergency or overdose, contact the local emergency services provider (119) or immediately to the nearest hospital emergency department.

When someone has an overdose, various symptoms that may arise are:

• Too low blood pressure (hypotension) which makes the head dizzy
• Fainting
• Fast and irregular heartbeat
• Slower than normal heart rate

What should I do if I miss a dose?

If you forget a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, when it is nearing the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose and return to the usual dosing schedule. Do not double your dose in one drink.

Hello Health Group does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

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