ERIZOLE 400 Tablet

In the treatment of single or mixed intestinal parasites. Clinical studies have shown albendazole to be effective in the treatment of Ascaris lumbricoides (roundworm), Trichuris Trichiura (whipworm), Enterobius vermicularis (pinworm), Ancylostoma duodenale and Necator americanus (hookworm), Taenia spp. (tapeworm) and Strongyloides stercoralis (threadworm). ERIZOLE 400 has been shown to be affective in the treatment of Giardia (duodenalis or intestinalis or lamblia) infections in children.

Dosage and administration

Adults and children over 2 years.

Usual dose: 1 tablet. Tables may be chewed and swallowed, or crushed and mixed with food. Albendazole is given orally, usually as a single dose, in the treatment of single or mixed intestinal nematode infections. The usual dose for adults and children ages 2 years or over with ascariasis, hookworm infections, or trichuriasis is 400mg as a single dose.

In Strongyloidiasis, 400mg is given daily for 3 consecutive days: this may be repeated after 3 weeks if necessary: a similar schedule is used for Taeniasis when mixed with other worm infections.

Giardiasis (dose in children over 2 years of age): A single 400mg daily dose for 5 days.

Albendazole is known to be teratogenic and embryotoxic in animals. Hypersensitivity to any of the ingredients. ERIZOLE 400 should not be taken by pregnant women at any stage of their pregnancy or by women who are likely to become pregnant, during or shortly after the course of therapy.

Gastrointestinal disturbances and headaches have been reported. Since albendazole is poorly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract at the usual therapeutic doses, side-effects have generally been restricted to gastrointestinal disturbances, such as transient abdominal pain and diarrhoea, and have tended to occur in patients being treated for heavy intestinal infection. However, adverse effects have been reported more frequently with the high doses and have included allergic reactions, raised liver enzyme values, alopecia and bone marrow depression which can be severe.

Pregnancy

Contraindicated.

It has been noted that leucopenia has occurred when used for periods longer than recommended.

Albendazole is teratogenic in rats.

Animal studies have shown that albendazole exhibits vermicidal, ovicidal and larvicidal activity. The medicine is thought to exert its anthelmintic effect by blocking glucose uptake by the susceptible helminths, thereby depleting the energy level until it becomes inadequate for survival. ERIZOLE 400 initially immobilizes, then kills the susceptible helminth.