Albendazole 400 Mg

What is Albendazole 400 Mg?

Albendazole 400 mg is a medicine for treating parasitic infections. It is an anthelmintic medication and it belongs to the class of benzimidazole. It causes parasitic impairment by stopping their ability to absorb glucose. This causes depletion of their energy, which ultimately kills the parasites. It is prescribed primarily for the treatment of:

• Helminths are transmitted through soil
• Pinworm or Enterobiasis
• Strongyloidiasis or threadworm
• Cutaneous Larva Migrans

Manufacturer:

Albendazole is manufactured in different generic brand names, such as:

• Zentel by GlaxoSmithKline.
• Bendex by Cipla Ltd.
• Noworm by Alkem Laboratories

Composition and appearance:

• Active Ingredient: Albendazole USP
• Inactive Ingredients: Lactose Monohydrate, Sodium Lauryl Sulphate, Microcrystalline Cellulose and Colouring Agents.
• Appearance: Round-biconvex, Film-coated, Off-white tablets imprinted with L763.

Onset of action:

• Initiation to Peak Concentration: It is primarily converted to Albendazole 400 Mg Sulfoxide in the liver, and it typically achieves the peak within 2-5 hours of intaking.
• Disrupting cellular function: Within hours of intake, the drug starts disrupting the cellular functions of the parasites.
• Expulsion of parasites: Within 1-3 days, the parasites are paralysed and killed, followed by expulsion through bowel movement.

How does Albendazole 400 mg work?

• Inhibits Polymerization: Initially, it binds with the cellular protein of the parasite. This prevents the polymerization. Tubulin’s assembling is prohibited, disrupting the cellular transport system of the parasites. As it does so, the cell division of the parasites gets arrested, and the structure of the worms degrades.
• Energy Depletion: Parasite’s glucose uptake is disrupted and that causes depletion of the glycogen level of the parasites, resulting in an energy drop in the worms. For lack of energy and glucose, worms cannot produce Adenosine Triphosphate and that starves the parasites to death.
• Eradication: Helminths are paralysed, which immobilizes the parasites to remain attached to the intestinal walls. Once immobilized, they are expelled through normal bowel movement from your body.

Dosage of Albendazole 400 Mg

• Administering: Dosage depends on the body weight of the patient. The dose must be short, and it can be given to patients aged above 2 years.
• Treatment and Dose repetition: The typical dose for treatment of each type of parasite is:
  • Hookworm: Single dose of 400 mg; can be repeated after 1-2 weeks for reinfection.
  • Ascaris Lumbricoides (Roundworm): Single Dose of 400 mg.
  • Pinworm and Threadworm: Single Dose of 400 mg; can be repeated after 14 days.
  • (Threadworm) Strongyloidiasis: One tablet of 400 mg each day for 3 consecutive days.
  • Cutaneous Larva Migrans: Take 400mg once daily; can be taken for 1-3 days according to the doctor’s guidance.
  • Roundworm and Whipworm: Single Dose of 400 mg.
• Food Preference: Always take Albendazole with meals and keep your meals rich in fat. Keep at least 40 to 43 gms of fat in your meals for easier absorption ease.

Benefits of Albendazole 400 Mg

• Eradicated several pathogens: Albendazole targets almost all types of intestinal parasites, including whipworms, pinworms, threadworms, and ringworms.
• Reinfection rate reduced: A single dose is sufficient to remove the parasite from the gastrointestinal tract. However, if the egg remains, a second dose after a week can completely recover the intestinal tract.
• Health Improvement: Hookworms lead to huge iron deficiency and that causes anaemia, which the drug protects from. In the case of kids, clearing the worms of the intestine, the drug helps them to absorb nutrition easily. Even in adults, it reduces incidences of intracranial pressure and epileptic seizures.
• Cost-effective: It is a low-cost drug and an essential one, according to the WHO-listing. It can treat neglected tropical diseases, which affect the poor population and thus are highly effective in African and Asian conditions.

Drug Interactions:

1. Medicines increasing the level of Albendazole:

• Cimetidine that treats ulcers and acid reflux
• Dexamethasone, which is used to treat brain swelling and
• Praziquantel that is used for fighting tapeworm protocols.

2. Medicines decreasing the level of Albendazole:

• Ritonavir is used for HIV/AIDS
• Anticonvulsants like Carbamazepine and Phenobarbital

3. Food Interactions:

• Fatty Meals: Although beneficial for parasites affecting tissues, it is unsafe for fighting simple parasites.
• Grapefruit: Normal grapes or grapefruit juices, when taken abruptly more, it can affect metabolism in the liver.

Side effects:

Common Side Effects:

• Gastrointestinal: Nausea, Pain in the abdomen, or Diarrhoea can be the case. Take adequate water and take a fatty meal with the drug.
• Headache: Dizziness and headache are common. Never remain with an empty stomach during medication for long hours.
• Liver Enzymes: Liver enzymes get elevated due to the effect of the drug. Stop taking drugs that elevate liver enzymes otherwise during the treatment.

Serious Side Effects:

• Bone Marrow Issues: A drop in blood count, leading to extreme tiredness along with fever, indicates suppression of the bone marrow. See a doctor immediately.
• Hepatic Reaction: Jaundice symptoms with abdominal pain, if faced, see a doctor for liver health.
• Allergy: If you face allergic reactions like hives, swelling of the face, lips and throat, or facing breathing issues, contact a doctor fast.
• Neuro Issues: Patients already under medication for neurocysticercosis can face heavy issues related to inflammation of the brain. Corticosteroids are needed for symptom recovery.

Precautions and Warnings:

• Pregnancy: A pregnant woman must not take the drug. Confirm by pregnancy test that you are negative to take the dose. If you are not pregnant, then too, use the best contraceptive pills while you engage in sexual activity, and you take albendazole.
• Liver Monitoring: Secretion of Liver enzymes can increase during the medication. Continuous monitoring is essential. If found that the enzyme level has elevated sharply and you are facing jaundice symptoms, discontinue taking the drug and see a doctor.
• Bone Marrow issues: Leukopenia and Pancytopenia can be caused by Albendazole 400 Mg. Monitoring platelet count is essential during the medication. If you have faced bone marrow suppression ever before, consult with a doctor and then only take Albendazole 400 Mg.
• Neurological issues: If you are undergoing treatment for neurocysticercosis, parasites in your brain can die from the medicine and that can induce serious headaches and other neuro risks. Corticosteroids are often recommended for such patients for precaution and recovery.
• Use in kids and elderly people: Taking albendazole at the age of 1 year or in elderly patients can be risky. In case of elderly patients, there can be serious renal issues, and in children, although the exact anomaly has not been established, preference to use Albendazole 400 Mg is still not given.

When not to use:

• Pregnancy: Never use Albendazole 400 Mg during pregnancy. It can cause a serious birth defect in the embryo. Before taking the drug, women who are trying to conceive must assess their pregnancy and confirm a negative report.
• Allergic reactions: If you know that you are allergic to Albendazole 400 Mg, never take the drug. If you are allergic to lactose, the drug contains lactose too. Hence, avoid taking the drug.
• Serious liver issues: If you are undergoing treatment for a serious liver issue, Albendazole 400 Mg can induce risk of toxicity. Therefore, only take it when your doctor allows you to take it, after conducting essential tests.
• Children below 1 year: Although the exact risk is not identified, still it is not prescribed to the kids below 1 year, according to the TGA guidelines.

Storage:

Store at a place that is neither too hot nor too moist, nor too cold. Avoid Light and moisture. Keep the drugs away from children and pets.

Where to buy Albendazole 400 Mg in Australia?

Always buy Albendazole 400 from an authentic store. Australiarxmeds is one of the trusted stores in the list of the TGA list. You can get your drug by showing a prescription from the online pharmacy at a discounted rate.