The information on this site is intended to supplement and enhance, not replace, the advice of a physician who is familiar with your medical history. Decisions about your health should always be made ONLY after detailed conversation with your doctor.
Generic drug name:
mebendazole
(meb EN dah zoll)
Brand name(s):
VERMOX
GENERIC:
not available
FAMILY:
Drugs for Parasitic infection
Find the drug label by
searching at DailyMed.
Pregnancy and Breast-feeding Warnings [top]
Pregnancy Warning
Mebendazole caused malformations and death in developing fetuses in animal studies. Because of the potential for serious adverse effects to the fetus, this drug should not be used by pregnant women.
Breast-feeding Warning
No information is available from either human or animal studies. However, it is likely that this drug, like many others, is excreted in human milk. If you need to take mebendazole for several weeks, as opposed to a few days, you should consult with your doctor if you are planning to nurse.
Facts About This Drug [top]
Mebendazole is approved by the FDA for treatment of pinworm, whipworm, roundworm, and hookworm.[1] The independent source of drug information for health professionals, The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics, lists mebendazole as the drug of choice for pinworm, whipworm, roundworm, and hookworm.[2]
It is very important that these conditions be treated, since if worms escape from the intestines, they can be quite disturbing under the skin, and dangerous in the heart, mouth, liver, or...
Mebendazole is approved by the FDA for treatment of pinworm, whipworm, roundworm, and hookworm.[1] The independent source of drug information for health professionals, The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics, lists mebendazole as the drug of choice for pinworm, whipworm, roundworm, and hookworm.[2]
It is very important that these conditions be treated, since if worms escape from the intestines, they can be quite disturbing under the skin, and dangerous in the heart, mouth, liver, or joints.[3],[4] Masses of roundworms have blocked the intestines or bile duct during therapy.[5] In high doses mebendazole has suppressed the bone marrow. Mebendazole is not approved in the United States for tapeworm or hydatid diseases. Effectiveness of mebendazole depends on whether the infestation is minor or severe, how long it takes worms to pass through your digestive tract, whether or not you have diarrhea, and the susceptibility of the worms. It may take a few days for the body to expel dead forms in the stool.
Length of therapy varies from three days to several months, according to the type and number of parasites. At times treatment needs to be repeated at least once. In severe infections, use of mebendazole may prevent the need for a blood transfusion or surgery. Compared to some other pinworm medicine, mebendazole has an advantage of not staining clothing or bedding.
You may be more susceptible to parasites if you take immunosuppressant drugs or corticosteroids.[4] Several measures can prevent infestation. Wear shoes. Do not go barefoot where human or animal feces may be on the ground, including beaches, children’s sandboxes, and fertilized gardens. Wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly. Eat meat that is completely cooked. Wash your hands before preparing food, eating, and after going to the toilet. Use sanitary conditions to dispose of human feces. Be cautious when traveling to areas with dense shade, high humidity, and sandy soil, coupled with poor sanitation.
Before You Use This Drug [top]
Tell your doctor if you have or have had:
Tell your doctor of activities, places, or work that may have exposed you to parasites, especially if you have:
Tell your doctor about any other drugs you take, including aspirin, herbs, vitamins, and other nonprescription products.
When You Use This Drug [top]
How to Use This Drug [top]
Interactions with Other Drugs [top]
Evaluations of Drug Interactions 2003 lists no drugs, biologics (e.g., vaccines, therapeutic antibodies), or foods as causing “highly clinically significant” or “clinically significant” interactions when used together with the drugs in this section. We also found no interactions in the drugs’ FDA-approved professional package inserts. However, as the number of new drugs approved for marketing increases and as more experience is gained with these drugs over time, new interactions may be discovered.
Adverse Effects [top]
Call your doctor immediately if you experience:
Call your doctor if these symptoms continue:
Periodic Tests[top]
Ask your doctor which of these tests should be done periodically while you are taking this drug:
last reviewed April 30, 2024
Worst Pills, Best Pills is a project of Public Citizen's Health Research Group Group. As an independent, nonprofit organization, we take no corporate or government contributions and accept no advertising. Copyright © 2024 Public Citizen's Health Research Group. All rights reserved.
Login
Subscribe