Mebendazole

Precautions

Before taking Mebendazole talk with your doctor if you are allergic to it or any other medications related to it. The medication may contain some inactive ingredients which can cause some serious allergic reactions or some other serious problems. Before taking the medications talk with your doctor if you are having any medical history such as: Low blood count, Liver disease, intestinal problems and kidney disease. Talk to your doctor if you are taking any prescription and non-prescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements and other herbal products.

How to use Mebendazole?

Mebendazole is available in the form of a chewable tablet. The medication is normally taken twice a day, in the morning and evening, for three days to treat whipworm, roundworm, and hookworm. When treating pinworm, it is usually given as a single (one-time) dose. The drug is typically administered as a single dose. If you are unable to chew the tablet, put it on a spoon and use a dosing syringe to dispense a small amount of water (2 to 3 mL) onto the tablet. The tablet will absorb the water and transform into a soft mass that should be swallowed after 2 minutes.

For certain hookworm, roundworm, tapeworm, and whipworm infections, the first dose is 100 mg twice daily for three days.

Pinworm infection is treated with a single dose of 100 mg. If necessary, the dose can be repeated in 2 to 3 weeks.

Missed Dose

If you take mebendazole twice a day and forget to take one dose, take it as soon as you remember. If you recall 4 hours after your dose was meant to be taken, skip the missed dose and proceed with your daily schedule. To make up for a missed dose, do not take a double dose.

Overdose

It's unlikely that taking an extra dose of mebendazole can harm you. You can, however, experience side effects such as stomach cramps, being sick, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Overdose of a drug can be accidental. If you have taken more than the prescribed tablets there is a chance of getting a harmful effect on your body’s functions.

Warnings for Some Serious Health Conditions

Pregnancy & Breastfeeding

In animal experiments, negative effects have been observed. Although there have been no reported adverse effects in human pregnancy, it is suggested to delay pinworm treatment until the third trimester if possible.

The medication can pass into the breastmilk and can cause some serious side effects to the infants. So, if you are breastfeeding talk to your doctor immediately.

Interactions

Drug interactions can cause mebendazole to function differently or it can put you at risk for severe adverse effects. Keep a record of all the medications that you use (including prescription and nonprescription medications, as well as herbal products) and share it with your doctor and pharmacist. Do not begin, stop, or adjust the dosage of any medications without first consulting your doctor. The product that can interact with this drug is metronidazole.

Storage

Direct contact with heat, air and light may damage your medicines. Exposure to medicine may cause some harmful effects. The medicine must be kept in a safe place and out of children’s reach.

Mainly the drug should be kept at room temperature between 68ºF and 77ºF (20ºC and 25ºC).

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Citations