Albendazole-drug class,uses,adverse drug reactions

Manufacturer of Albendazole:

Albendazole is manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals Ltd, one of the world's leading research based pharmaceutical and healthcare companies.It is one of the oldest pharmaceuticals companies in India.Its prescription medicines range across therapeutic areas such as anti-infectives, dermatology, gynaecology, diabetes,cardiovascular,cancer and respiratory diseases. It also offers a range of vaccines, for the prevention of hepatitis A, hepatitis B, invasive disease caused by H, influenzae, chickenpox, dpt, rotavirus, cervical cancer and others.

Drug class of Albendazole:

Albendazole is an antihelminthic drug.Anthelmintics are an agent's that expel parasitic worms and other internal parasites from the body by either inhibiting the growth or killing them and without causing damage to the host tissue. 

Medications containing Albendazole:

Albeder

Albenza

Bandazole

Bendex

Zentel

Drug availability:

Chewable/Plain tablet 150,200,400 mg & 1.5 gm;Capsule 400 mg;Oral suspension 200 mg/5 ml;Syrup 200 mg/5 ml;Drop 10 ml(200 mg/ml)

Dose of Albendazole:

Oral-Adult and child;

Above 2 years :400 mg daily as a single dose.

Child-1 to 2 years :200 mg as a single dose.

Uses of Albendazole :

• Echinococcosis ( A tapeworm infection that affect the lungs,liver,brain and other organs)
• Hookworm infections
• Strongyloidiasis(It is an infection of the small intestine caused by strongyloides stercoralis)
• Ascariasis(It is an infection ,usually of the small intestine caused by Ascaris lumbricoides-roundworm)
• Enterobiasis(It is an infection of the large intestine caused by Enterobius vermicularis-pinworm,threadworm)
• Filariasis
• Nematode infections
• Trichuriasis(It is an infection of the large intestine caused by whipworm)
• Cestode infections(Infections caused by tapeworm)

Adverse drug reactions of Albendazole:

Gastrointestinal disturbances;nausea;dizziness;vertigo;itching;headache;reversible alopecia;leukopenia;stevens-johnson syndrome. 

Drug interactions:

Cimetidine increases albendazole metabolism .Serum levels are increased if taken with dexamethasone.

Contraindications:

Pregnancy & lactation .Neonates ;hypersensitivity;liver impairment