Albendazole 400 MG Tablet

Albendazole 400 MG Tablet is generally prescribed to treat diseases like neurocysticercosis (affecting the brain, muscles and other tissues) and giardiasis (intestinal infection). This drug is an antiparasitic drug. It is used for treating several diseases caused by an infestation of parasitic worms.

It also treats hydatid disease, pinworm disease (intestinal infection), ascariasis (gastrointestinal infection), filariasis (affecting the lymph nodes and vessels) and others. The drug falls under the group of drugs known as anthelmintics.

It expels the parasitic worms either by stunning them or killing them without causing notable damage to the host body. The anthelmintic drug kills the sensitive parasites in your body.

Before you start this medication, you must inform your doctor if you have any of the following health conditions:

• Blockage in the biliary tract
• Liver disease
• A low blood count (low platelet, white cell or red cell count)

Also inform the doctor if you are pregnant or planning to get pregnant, breast-feeding mother or In case you are allergic to Albendazole 400 MG Tablet, or any other medicines or food

In case you forget to take a dose of this medication, you can take it as soon as you remember it. Do not take two doses together just because you missed one. It should also be kept in mind not to stop your medicines before the prescribed time, even if you think you are feeling better.

Apart from that, you must consult your child’s paediatrician before using this tablet to treat your child’s condition. Take according to prescribed dosage schedule with meals.

You may experience loss of hair (reversible); dizziness or headaches (use caution when driving or engaging in tasks that require alertness until response to drug is known).

Report unusual fever, abdominal pain, unresolved vomiting, yellowing of skin or eyes, darkening of urine, or light colored stools.

Monitor fecal specimens for ova and parasites for 3 weeks after treatment; if positive, retreat; monitor LFTs, and clinical signs of hepatotoxicity; CBC at start of each 28-day cycle and every 2 weeks during therapy.

• Hydatid Disease

• Neurocysticercosis

• Enterobiasis

• Strongyloidiasis

• Ascariasis

• Trichuriasis

• Cutaneous Larva Migrans

• Filariasis

• Giardiasis

• Systemic Infections

• Allergy

• Pregnancy

• Stomach Pain

• Nausea

• Vomiting

• Rash

• Urticaria

• Alopecia

• Altered Liver Function Test

• Allergic Reaction

• How long is the duration of effect?

  It is broken down in the liver and remains active in the body for an average of 8.5 - 9 hours.

• What is the onset of action?

  This tablet is poorly absorbed from the Gastro-intestinal tract and reaches its peak levels within 2-5 hours of administration.

• Are there any pregnancy warnings?

  It is suspected to cause harm to the developing fetus in pregnant women. Since there is a lack of conclusive evidence from studies on human, it is not recommended for use. However, its usage could be considered in cases where the potential benefits outweigh the risks associated.

• Is it habit forming?

  No habit forming tendencies were reported.

• Are there any breast-feeding warnings?

  It is not excreted in the breast milk. It is recommended to consult a doctor before consuming the drug.

• Does this affect kidney function?

  No relevant information available. Kindly consult your doctor before taking this medicine.

• Does this affect liver function?

  It cause an increase in LFTs. Thus dose is needed to be adjusted. Kindly consult your doctor before taking this medication.

• Is It safe with alcohol?

  It is unknown whether it is safe or not to consume Albendazole 400 MG Tablet with alcohol.

• Is it safe to drive while on this medicine?

  Albendazole 400 MG Tablet may affect the alertness of the patient taking it.

Below is the list of medicines, which have the same composition, strength and form as Albendazole 400 MG Tablet , and hence can be used as its substitute.

• Zybend 400 MG Tablet

  Zydus Cadila

• Zentel 400 MG Tablet

  Glaxosmithkline Pharmaceuticals Ltd

• Noworm 400 MG Tablet

  Alkem Laboratories Ltd

• Zelbend 400 MG Tablet

  Zydus Cadila

• Albaxy 400 MG Tablet

  Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd

• Are there any missed dose instructions?

  The missed dose should be taken as soon as one remembers. However, if it is time for the next scheduled dose, then one should skip the missed one.

• Are there any overdose instructions?

  One should contact the Doctor immediately if an overdose is suspected.

It gets converted into sulfoxide form and causes degeneration of cytoplasmic microtubules and tegmental cells. This results in depletion of energy and metabolic processes and the parasites are killed

Whenever you take more than one medicine, or mix it with certain foods or beverages, you"re at risk of a drug interaction.

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• Interaction with Medicine

  • Increased effect: Dexamethasone increases plasma levels of albendazole metabolites; praziquantel may increase plasma concentrations of albendazole by 50%; albendazole inhibits hepatic cytochrome P-450 1A and may consequently interact by increasing the concentrations of many drugs which are metabolized by this route; food (especially fatty meals) increases the oral bioavailability by 4-5 times.
  • Clozapine: Any sign or symptom of infection should be properly reported. Usage of either of the drugs should be reported to the Doctor so that safer alternatives can be prescribed.
  • Dexamethasone: Suitable adjustments in the dosage is to be made under doctor's supervision before this drug is prescribed along with dexamethasone.
  • Praziquantel: Suitable adjustments in the dosage is to be made before this drug is prescribed along with Praziquantel.
  • Carbamazepine: Suitable adjustments in the dosage of this medication along with monitoring of levels by the Doctor is recommended.
  • Phenytoin: Suitable adjustments in the dosage of it, along with monitoring of levels by the Doctor is recommended.

• Interaction with Food

  Administer Albendazole 400 MG Tablet with a high fatty diet, as it increase s the absorption of the medicine.

  Grapefruit Juice

  Albendazole 400 MG Tablet should not be taken with grapefruit juice in order to avoid the unpredictable effect.

• Interaction with Disease

  • Discontinue therapy if LFT elevations are significant; may restart treatment when decreased to pretreatment values.
  • Becoming pregnant within 1 month following therapy is not advised.
  • Corticosteroids should be administered 1-2 days before albendazole therapy in patients with neurocysticercosis to minimize inflammatory reactions and steroid and anticonvulsant therapy should be used concurrently during the first week of therapy for neurocysticercosis to prevent cerebral hypertension.
  • If retinal lesions exist in patients with neurocysticercosis, weigh risk of further retinal damage due to albendazole-induced changes to the retinal lesion vs benefit of disease treatment.

• Ques : What is Albendazole 400 mg tablet?

  Ans : Albendazole tablet works as an antiparasitic medication and is generally used in the prevention and treatment of parasitic infections caused by tapeworms, pinworms and hookworms. It contains Albendazole as a working ingredient. This tablet works by keeping the worms from absorbing sugar (glucose), thereby depleting their energy level. It causes the worms to die and treats your infection.

• Ques : What is the use of Albendazole 400 mg tablet?

  Ans : It is used for treating infections caused by ​worm-like parasites​, like the ​ human pinworm​, roundworm​, hookworms like Necator americanus, whipworm, chinese liver fluke​. It is advisable to take this drug only after consultation of a doctor as there are worms for which this medicine could be ineffective.

• Ques : What are the side effects of Albendazole 400 mg tablet?

  Ans : Side effects include fever, headache, nausea or vomiting, seizures, dark urine, and temporary hair loss. Apart from these, using this medicine may further lead to elevated liver enzymes, allergic skin reaction, bleeding and bruising, and shortness of breath. If any of these symptoms occur often or on daily basis, a doctor should be urgently consulted.

• Ques : What are the instructions for storage and disposal of Albendazole 400 mg tablet ?

  Ans : This tablet should be stored at room temperature, away from heat and direct light. Keep it away from the reach of children and pets.

• Ques : How long do I need to use albendazole 400 mg tablet before I see improvement in my condition?

  Ans : This medication should be consumed, until the complete eradication of the disease. Thus it is advised to use, till the time directed by your doctor. Also taking this medication longer than it was prescribed, can cause an inadequate effect on the patient's condition. So please consult your doctor.

• Ques : At what frequency do I need to use albendazole 400 mg tablet?

  Ans : The duration of effect for this medicine is dependent on the severity of the patient’s condition. Therefore the frequency of usage of this medication will vary from person to person. It is advised to follow the proper prescription of the doctor, directed according to the patient's condition.

• Ques : Should I use albendazole 400 mg tablet empty stomach, before food or after food?

  Ans : This medication is advised to be consumed orally. The salts involved in this medication react properly if it is taken with the food. If you take it on an empty stomach, it might upset the stomach. Please consult the doctor before using it.

• Ques : Can Albendazole 400 MG Tablet destroy tapeworms?

  Ans : Albendazole 400 MG Tablet can be used to treat ​ Dwarf tapeworm and beef tapeworm.​ Consulting a doctor is very important before using this drug as it is ineffective for certain worms.

• Ques : Can Albendazole 400 MG Tablet be the reason diarrhoea?

  Ans : Albendazole 400 MG Tablet doesn’t commonly cause ​ diarrhoea​ . Please consult your doctor if you experience diarrhea after taking it.

• Ques : Does Albendazole 400 MG Tablet work efficiently?

  Ans : Albendazole 400 MG Tablet works efficiently if taken in doses prescribed by your doctor for specified duration of time.

• Ques : Can Albendazole 400 MG Tablet treat scabies?

  Ans : Albendazole 400 MG Tablet cannot treat scabies. You should visit your doctor and get yourself diagnosed properly if you think you are having scabies.

• Ques : Can Albendazole 400 MG Tablet be used for treating Giardia?

  Ans : It can be used for treating giardiasis. It has shown effective restrain against ​ flagellated parasitic microorganism​ Giardia lamblia or anaerobic protozoa like Trichomonas vaginalis. You should visit your doctor and get yourself diagnosed properly if you think you are suffering from giardiasis,

• Ques : Can Albendazole 400 MG Tablet kill eggs?

  Ans : Albendazole 400 MG Tablet cannot destroy or kill the eggs of the worms. It only acts for the impediment of larva and the adult form of the targeted worm.

• Albendazole- Drug Information Portal [Internet]. druginfo.nlm.nih.gov. 2019 [Cited 24 April 2019]. Available from:

  https://druginfo.nlm.nih.gov/drugportal/name/albendazole

• ALBENDAZOLE- albendazole tablet- Daily Med [Internet]. dailymed.nlm.nih.gov. 2018 [Cited 24 April 2019]. Available from:

  https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=0a4ce2e1-db3d-4b24-98aa-0519fbaff547

• Albendazole- DrugBank [Internet]. Drugbank.ca. 2019 [Cited 25 April 2019]. Available from:

  https://www.drugbank.ca/drugs/DB00518