Albendazole (Systemic)

Brand Names : Albenza

Before Using This Medicine

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For albendazole, the following should be considered:

Allergies - Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to albendazole. Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.

Pregnancy - Albendazole has not been studied in pregnant women. However, studies in animals have shown that albendazole can cause birth defects or other problems. Before taking this medicine, make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant or if you may become pregnant. Women of childbearing age should take the medicine within 7 days after the start of their period (menstrual cycle). After a negative pregnancy test, birth control must be used during treatment and for 1 month after stopping treatment with albendazole.

Breast-feeding - Albendazole passes into animal milk. It is not known whether albendazole passes into human breast milk. Although most medicines pass into breast milk in small amounts, many of them may be used safely while breast-feeding. Mothers who are taking this medicine and who wish to breast-feed should discuss this with their doctor.

Children - Although there is very little specific information comparing use of albendazole in children with use in other age groups, this medicine is not expected to cause different side effects or problems in children than it does in adults.

Older adults - Many medicines have not been studied specifically in older people. Therefore, it may not be known whether they work exactly the same way they do in younger adults or if they cause different side effects or problems in older people. There is no specific information comparing use of albendazole in the elderly with use in other age groups.

Other medicines - Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking albendazole, it is especially important that your health care professional know if you are taking any of the following:

• Cimetidine (e.g., Tagamet, Tagamet HB) or
• Corticosteroids (cortisone-like medicines) or
• Praziquantel (e.g., Biltricide) - Use of these medicines with albendazole has been shown to increase the effects of albendazole

Other medical problems - The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of albendazole. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Cysticercosis involving the eye - Patients who are being treated with albendazole for pork tapeworms of the nervous system (neurocysticercosis) should be examined for lesions in the eye; use of albendazole may increase the chance of side effects involving the eye
• Liver disease - Patients with liver disease may have an increased chance of side effects