ALBENDAZOLE

(al BEN da zole) Brand: Albenza

What is the most significant information I must know about albendazole?

• You must not use this medicine if you are allergic to albendazole, or to similar medications such as mebendazole (Vermox).

• Till using albendazole, speak your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have liver malady or have ever had emergency liver function tests.

• You must not use albendazole if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant during treatment. Use an effective form of birth control while you are using albendazole, and for at least 1 month after your treatment ends.

• Take albendazole with food to lessen stomach upset.

• Take this medicine for the entire length of time predesigned by your doctor. Your symptoms may get better till the infection is completely treated. Albendazole will not treat a viral infection such as the general cool or flu.

• Albendazole can lower the blood cells that help your body fight infections. This can create it easier for you to bleed from an injury or get sick from being near others who are ill. To be certain your blood cells do not get too low, your blood will need to be tested on a regular basis. Your liver function may also need to be tested. Do not miss any scheduled visits to your doctor.

What is albendazole?

• Albendazole is an anthelmintic (an-thel-MIN-tik) or anti-worm medicine. It prevents newly hatched insect larvae (worms) from growing or multiplying in your body.

• Albendazole is used to treat determined infections caused by worms such as pork tapeworm and dog tapeworm.

• Albendazole may also be used for another purposes not listed in this medicine guide.

What must I discuss with my healthcare provider till taking albendazole?

• Do not use this medicine if you are allergic to albendazole, or to similar medications such as mebendazole (Vermox).

• If you have determined conditions, you may need a doze adjustment or particular trials to safely take this medicine. Till using albendazole, speak your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have:

· liver malady; or

· if you have ever had emergency liver function tests.

• FDA pregnancy category C. This medicine may reason harm to an unborn child. Do not use albendazole if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant during treatment. Use an effective form of birth control while you are using albendazole, and for at least 1 month after your treatment ends.

• Your doctor may ask you to have a pregnancy test to create certain you are not pregnant till you take albendazole.

• It is not known whether albendazole passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing child. Do not use this medicine without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

How must I take albendazole?

• Take this medicine exactly as it was predesigned for you. Do not take the medicine in larger amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label.

• Albendazole must be taken with food.

• If you have trouble swallowing an albendazole tablet, you may crush or chew the tablet and then drink a full glass of water to swallow it.

• Albendazole is sometimes given in a cycle of 4 weeks followed by 2 weeks of not taking the drug. This cycle is generally repeated before a total of 3 cycles have been given.

• Store albendazole at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

What happens if I miss a dose?

• Take the missed doze as soon as you remember. If it is nearly time for your following doze, skip the missed doze and take the medication at your following regularly scheduled time. Do not take extra medication to create up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

• Search abnormal medical attention if you think you have used too many of this medication. Symptoms of an albendazole overdose are not known.

What must I avoid while taking albendazole?

• Avoid being around people who have colds, the flu, or another contagious illnesses. Contact your doctor at once if you develop signs of infection.

What are the possible side effects of albendazole?

• Get abnormal medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your person, lips, tongue, or throat.

• Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

· light bruising or bleeding, unusual weakness;

· fever, sore throat, and headache with a severe blistering, peeling, and red skin rash; or

· fever with chills, body aches, or flu-like symptoms.

• Smaller serious side effects may include:

· stomach pain;

· nausea, vomiting;

· headache, dizziness; or

· temporary hair loss.

• This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may message side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088. You may message side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What another drugs will affect albendazole?

• Till taking this medicine, speak your doctor if you are using any of the next drugs:

· cimetidine (Tagamet, Tagamet HB);

· dexamethasone (Decadron, Hexadrol);

· praziquantel (Biltricide); or

· theophylline (Elixophyllin, Slo-Bid, Theo-Dur, Uniphyl, and others).

• This list is not complete and there may be another drugs that can interact with albendazole. Speak your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal commodity, and drugs predesigned by another doctors. Do not start using a new medicine without telling your doctor.

Where can I get more information?

• Your pharmacist can provide more information about albendazole.

Remember, hold this and all another medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medicine only for the indication prescribed.

Disclaim: Each effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses external of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way must be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safety, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the help of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

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