ZENTEL Tablet

1. Pregnant patients

2. Patients with a know history of hypersensitivity to albendazole or constituents

Headache, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, elevations of hepatic enzymes.

Praziquantel, ritonavir, phenytoin, carbamazepine, phenobarbital

Pregnancy: Contraindication

Lactation:Not adequate study

Special populations

- Elderly

Experience in patients 65 years of age or older is limited. Reported indicate that no dosage adjustment is required, however, ZENTEL should be used with caution in elderly patients with evidence of hepatic dysfunction.

- Renal impairment

Since renal elimination of albendazole and its primary metabolite, albendazole sulfoxide, is negligible, it is unlikely that clearance of these compounds would be altered in these patients. No dosage adjustment is required, however, patients with evidence of renal impairment should be carefully monitored.

- Hepatic impairment

Since albendazole is rapidly metabolized by the liver to the primary pharmacologically active metabolite, albendazole sulfoxide, hepatic impairment would be expected to have significant effects on the pharmacokinetics of albendazole sulfoxide. Patients with abnormal liver function test results (transaminases) prior to commencing albendazole therapy should be carefully monitored.

Special warning and precautions for use

In order to avoid administering ZENTEL during early pregnancy, women of childbearing age should initiate treatment during the first week of menstruation or after a negative pregnancy test.

Treatment with ZENTEL may uncover pre-existing neurocysticercosis, particularly in areas with high taenosis infection. Patients may experience neurological symptoms e.g. seizures, increased intracranial pressure and focal signs as a result of an inflammatory reaction caused by death of the parasite within the brain. Symptoms may occur soon after treatment, appropriate steroid and anticonvulsant therapy should be started immediately.

ZENTEL suspension contains benzoic acid which is a mild irritant to the skin, eyes and mucous membrane. It may increase the risk of jaundice in newborn babies.