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Albendazole

    Brands

    DEA Class; Rx

    Common Brand Names; Albenza

    • Anthelmintics

    Oral broad-spectrum antihelmintic antiparasitic agent (benzimidazole class)
    Used for hydatid cyst disease and neurocysticercosis; many off-label uses
    Similar to mebendazole and thiabendazole but better tolerated

    Indicated for the treatment of hydatid cyst disease.

    Indicated for
    • Neurocysticercosis (Taenia Solium Tapeworm)
    • Hydatid (Echinococcus Tapeworm)
    • Ancylostoma, Ascariasis, Hookworm, Trichostrongylus
    • Capillariasis
    • Larva Migrans, Cutaneous & Trichuriasis
    • Larva Migrans, Visceral
    • Enterobius (Pinworm)
    • Fluke (Clonorchis Sinensis)
    • Gnathostomiasis, Microsporidiosis

    Hypersensitivity to albendazole or benzimidazoles

    Headache

    • Neurocysticercosis (11%)

    • Hydatid disease (1.3%)

    Abnormal LFT

    • Hydatid disease (15.6%)

    • Neurocysticercosis (<1%)

    Monitor theophylline levels if used concomitantly

    Potential for bone marrow suppression, aplastic anemia & agranulocytosis; monitor blood counts in all patients at the beginning of each 28-day cycle of therapy, and every 2 weeks while on therapy; discontinue therapy if clinically significant changes in blood counts occur

    Pre-existing neurocysticercosis may be uncovered in patients treated w/ albendazole for other conditions, apparent by neurological symptoms (eg, seizures, increased intracranial pressure, focal signs); promptly treat w/ corticosteroid & anticonvulsant therapy

    Obtain pregnancy test in women of reproductive potential prior to therapy and avoid usage in pregnant women except in clinical circumstances where no alternative management is appropriate; discontinue therapy if pregnancy occurs and apprise patient of potential hazard to fetus

    Risk of retinal damage in retinal cysticercosis; cases of retinal involvement reported; examine patient for presence of retinal lesions before initiating therapy for neurocysticercosis

    Reversible elevations of liver enzymes may occur; monitor liver enzymes before start of each treatment cycle and at least every 2 weeks while on therapy and discontinue if clinically significant elevations occur; patients with abnormal LFTs and hepatic echinococcosis are at increased risk of hepatotoxicity; discontinue therapy if LFT elevations >2 times upper limit of normal; may consider restarting treatment when LFT values return to pretreatment levels

    Based on findings from animal reproduction studies, the drug may cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman

    Concentrations of drug and active metabolite, albendazole sulfoxide, reported to be low in human breast milk; there are no reports of adverse effects on breastfed infant and no information on effects on milk production

    Adults

    15 mg/kg/day PO or 800 mg/day PO for most indications; up to 3200 mg/day PO in HIV patients with microsporidiosis.

    Geriatric

    15 mg/kg/day PO or 800 mg/day PO for most indications.

    Adolescents

    15 mg/kg/day PO, not to exceed 800 mg/day PO.

    Children

    15 mg/kg/day PO, not to exceed 800 mg/day PO.

    Albendazole 

    tablet

    • 200mg