What is Anthelmintic & Anti-Worm Medicine?
Anthelmintics, or anti-worms, are a group of medicines that belong to the category of antiparasitic drugs. Antiparasitic drugs help kill or avert the growth of parasitic worms (helminths) and other internal parasites. Anthelmintics help treat people infected by helminths(parasitic worms), a condition called helminthiasis. These drugs are also used in animals to treat infections.
Antiparasitic drugs are widely used in mass deworming campaigns for school-aged children in developing countries to prevent infections from contaminated food or water. Doctors prescribe Antiparasitic based on symptoms caused by soil-transmitted helminths, schistosomiasis, and praziquantel.
How do Anthelmintic & Anti Worm drugs work?
Some Anthelmintic & Anti Worm medicine, like praziquantel, works by paralysing the worm's muscles, leading to expulsion. While others disrupt the worm's ability to absorb nutrients, the drugs starve them and eventually kill them.
How to use Anthelmintic & Anti Worm medicines?
Use Anthelmintic & Anti Worm medicine exactly as your doctor directed. Please do not use more of them, and do not use Anthelmintic drugs more often. Using necessarily and inappropriately can increase the chance of side effects. Take Anthelmintic & Anti Worm medicine with meals, especially with food containing fat, as it helps our body to absorb the Medicine better.
Take all doses as prescribed, and do not stop early. Complete the entire course of treatment of your Anthelmintic & Anti Worm medicine to ensure the infection is fully cleared.
What are the side effects of Anthelmintic & Anti Worm medicine?
Common side effects that may appear during the use of Anthelmintic & Antiworm drugs include:
- Diarrhea
- Stomach or abdominal cramps
- Nausea
- Dizziness
- Drowsiness
- Loss of appetite
- Trouble sleeping
- Vomiting
Please inform your doctor if you suspect any of the listed side effects.
What are the common Anthelmintic & Anti Worm medicines?
Commonly prescribed anthelmintic (antiworm) medications include albendazole, mebendazole, pyrantel pamoate, praziquantel, and ivermectin. Doctors prescribe these drugs to treat various types of worm infections:
- Albendazole: Treat infections caused by worms, including roundworms, hookworms, pinworms, and tapeworms.
- Praziquantel: It is a broad-spectrum anthelmintic drug that affects both flukes and tapeworms.
- Mebendazole: Effective against various nematodes, like roundworm, hookworm, whipworm, and threadworm infections.
- Pyrantel pamoate: Helps to treat infection by parasitic nematodes of the gastrointestinal tract, particularly pinworms.
- Ivermectin: Used to treat infections led by worms, such as roundworm, hookworm, and pinworm infections.
Some Other Anthelmintics include:
- Thiabendazole: Used to treat infection caused by various nematodes.
- Diethylcarbamazine: Helps to treat filariasis, a parasitic infection caused by roundworms.
- Niclosamide: Treats tapeworm infections.
- Levamisole: Treats multiple parasitic infections.
What are the drug interactions for Anthelmintic & Anti Worm medicine?
- Anticoagulants (Blood Thinners) – Albendazole and mebendazole may enhance the effects of warfarin, leading to bleeding risk.
- Liver Enzyme Inducers/Inhibitors – Medicines like Carbamazepine, rifampin, and phenytoin can reduce the effectiveness of albendazole and mebendazole. While Conversely, CYP3A4 inhibitors (grapefruit juice, ketoconazole) may increase drug levels.
- Seizure Medications – The use of Carbamazepine and phenobarbital may lower the effectiveness of certain anthelmintics by speeding up their metabolism.
- Immunosuppressant drugs– Ivermectin may interact with medications like tacrolimus and cyclosporine, potentially altering their effects.
- Antiretrovirals (HIV Medicines) – Some HIV medications (e.g., ritonavir, efavirenz) may reduce or increase anthelmintic drug levels, affecting efficacy.
- What are the disease interactions for Anthelmintic & Anti Worm medicine?
- Liver Disease – Some anthelmintics, such as albendazole, may affect liver function and need liver function monitoring in patients with liver disease.
- Kidney Disease – Certain antiworm drugs, such as ivermectin, may need dose adjustments for those with kidney impairment.
- Neurological Disorders – Drugs like ivermectin can worsen conditions such as meningitis or neurocysticercosis.
- Blood Disorders – Some anthelmintics (e.g., mebendazole) may cause bone marrow suppression or anaemia. It may happen, especially in patients with pre-existing blood disorders.
What are the precautions and safety advice related to Anthelmintic & Anti Worm medicine?
- Consider using your Anthelmintic drugs as long as prescribed to you. Never stop using them by yourself or share them with someone having symptoms like you.
- A person with an allergy to the active ingredient of any Anthelmintic & Anti Worm medicine should avoid using them.
- Ensure that you inform your doctor about your medical history and drugs that you are already using before you get prescribed any antiparasitic drug.
- Many anthelmintic drugs have limited safety data in pregnancy and should be used with caution. Please consult a doctor before you consider using any anthelmintic in case you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
- Combining anthelmintics with alcohol (especially metronidazole and albendazole). The interaction may increase liver toxicity and cause nausea or dizziness. So, it would be best to avoid alcohol consumption while on treatment.
How to store Anthelmintic & Anti-Worm medicine?
Store your Anthelmintic & Anti-Worm medicines at normal room temperature in a humidity-free area away from direct sunlight. Keep them safely away from the reach of children and pets, and ensure you leave them in their original packing unless you use them.
