Albenza

This medication is used to treat certain tapeworm infections (e.g., neurocysticercosis).

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is near the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose and resume your usual dosing schedule. Do not double the dose to catch up.

Take this medication by mouth with meals, usually 1 to 2 times daily or as directed by your doctor. If you or your child have trouble swallowing tablets, you may crush or chew your dose and take it with water. Dosage is based on your weight, medical condition, and response to treatment. Take this medication exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Some conditions may require you to stop the medication for 2 weeks and then restart the medication. If that is the case, it may be helpful to mark the calendar with a reminder of when you need to restart the medication. Use this medication regularly in order to get the most benefit from it. To help you remember, take it at the same time(s) each day. Continue to take this medication until the full prescribed amount is finished, even if symptoms disappear after a few days. Stopping the medication too early may result in a return of the infection. Other medications (e.g., corticosteroids, anti-seizure medications) may also be prescribed for your current condition. Take those medications exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Tell your doctor if your condition persists or worsens.

Your doctor or pharmacist may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for them. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with your doctor or pharmacist first. Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all prescription and nonprescription/herbal products you may use, especially of: cimetidine, praziquantel, theophylline. This document does not contain all possible interactions. Therefore, before using this product, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all the products you use. Keep a list of all your medications with you, and share the list with your doctor and pharmacist.

Do not share this medication with others. This medication has been prescribed for your current condition only. Do not use it later for another infection unless told to do so by your doctor. A different medication may be necessary in that case. Laboratory and/or medical tests (e.g., complete blood count, liver function test) should be performed periodically to monitor your progress or check for side effects. Consult your doctor for more details.

If overdose is suspected, contact your local poison control center or emergency room immediately. US residents can call the US National Poison Hotline at 1-800-222-1222. Canada residents can call a provincial poison control center.

Before taking albendazole, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or to other benzimidazole anthelmintic drugs (e.g., mebendazole); or if you have any other allergies. This product may contain inactive ingredients, which can cause allergic reactions or other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more details. Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: liver disease, biliary tract problems (e.g., blockage), blood/bone marrow disorders. This medication may cause liver problems. Because drinking alcohol increases the risk of liver problems, limit alcoholic beverages while using this medication. Check with your doctor or pharmacist for more information. During pregnancy, this medication should be used only when clearly needed. It may harm an unborn baby. Women of child-bearing age should have a negative pregnancy test before starting this medication. If you become pregnant or think you may be pregnant, tell your doctor immediately. It is recommended that men and women using this medication use 2 effective forms of birth control (e.g., condoms and birth control pills) while taking this medication and for 1 month after stopping the medication. Consult your doctor for more details and to discuss reliable forms of birth control. It is not known if this medication passes into breast milk. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.

Store at room temperature between 68-77 degrees F (20-25 degrees C) away from light and moisture. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep all medicines away from children and pets. Do not flush medications down the toilet or pour them into a drain unless instructed to do so. Properly discard this product when it is expired or no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company for more details about how to safely discard your product.

Nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, headache, or temporary hair loss may occur. If any of these effects persist or worsen, tell your doctor or pharmacist promptly. Remember that your doctor has prescribed this medication because he or she has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects. Tell your doctor immediately if any of these unlikely but serious side effects occur: vision changes, yellowing eyes/skin, severe stomach/abdominal pain, dark urine. Tell your doctor immediately if any of these rare but very serious side effects occur: unusual tiredness, easy bruising/bleeding, signs of infection (e.g., fever, persistent sore throat), change in the amount of urine, severe/persistent headache, seizures, confusion, very stiff neck. A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is rare. However, seek immediate medical attention if you notice any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, including: rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, trouble breathing. This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist. In the US - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088. In Canada - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to Health Canada at 1-866-234-2345.

This section contains uses of this drug that are not listed in the approved professional labeling for the drug but that may be prescribed by your health care professional. Use this drug for a condition that is listed in this section only if it has been so prescribed by your health care professional. This drug may also be used to treat other types of worm infections.