Vermox
High oral doses of mebendazole interfere with growth of larval Echinococcus multilocularis lesions.

Luder PJ, Robotti G, Meister FP, Bircher J.

The natural development of the larval stage of Echinococcus multilocularis in man has been studied in 7 patients after presumed radical operation 2 8/12-11 2/12 years prior to detection of a relapse. The volumes of the recurring lesions were assessed by CT-scanning, and assuming linear growth a median increase of 14.8 ml/year (range 3.8-220 ml/year) was calculated. In 6 patients treated for a median duration of 4 5/12 years with high oral doses of mebendazole a median growth rate of -3.0 ml/year (range-470- + 10.2 ml/year) was found, which differed significantly from the natural growth rate (P less than 0.01). Although the patients improved clinically, there was evidence of persistent infection. These data are the first controlled evidence that high oral doses of mebendazole may be parasitostatic in alveolar echinococcosis in man. Although not curative, this pharmacological effect appears to be clinically beneficial.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=4056349&dopt=Abstract mebendazole Vermox



Vermox
Anthelmintic effects of bithionol, paromomycin sulphate, flubendazole and mebendazole on mature and immature Hymenolepis nana in mice.

Maki J, Yanagisawa T.

The anthelmintic effects of anti-tapeworm drugs, bithionol, paromomycin sulphate, flubendazole and mebendazole on immature and mature Hymenolepis nana in mice were compared. Immature worms were not affected by paromomycin sulphate or flubendazole administered for 12 consecutive days (days one to 12 after infection) at 100 mg/kg/day but 48% and 100% of H. nana were eliminated from mice by bithionol and mebendazole respectively, at the same dosage regimen. Bithionol, paromomycin sulphate, flubendazole and mebendazole given at 100 mg/kg/day for five consecutive days (days 12 to 16 after infection) eliminated 32%, 29%, 36% and 100% of mature worms respectively. 10 and 20 mg of mebendazole/kg/day for five consecutive days (days 12 to 16 after infection) had little effect on mature worms whereas 50 and 100 mg/kg/day for the same period eliminated 99% and 100% of mature worms, respectively. ED50 of mebendazole in the elimination of mature H. nana was 14 or 15 mg/kg/day for five days from the reduction in dry weight or in number of worms recovered respectively. The effects of mebendazole given 2 to 4 days, 8 to 10 days or 13 to 15 days after infection at 100 mg/kg/day were compared. Very low, if any, activity of the drug given 2 to 4 days after infection was seen, whereas the drug given 8 to 10 days or 13 to 15 days after infection eliminated 84% and 86% of H. nana respectively.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=4067244&dopt=Abstract mebendazole Vermox



Vermox
Serum concentrations of mebendazole in patients with hydatid disease.

Bekhti A.

Mebendazole was administered to 22 patients, 17 of whom had developing or cured hydatid cysts, and to 5 volunteers. Then, at regular intervals, it was titrated by radioimmunoassay in the serum for 24 hours. Serum levels after the intake of 1 gram were perceptible on an empty stomach; they were higher when the drug was taken with a rich meal, but the difference was not statistically significant. The administration of increasing therapeutic doses (3, 4.5, 6 and 12 g a day) led to a concomitant increase of the average serum levels of mebendazole; concentrations varied between a minimum of 7.6 ng/ml and a maximum of 483 ng/ml. The difference between the various average concentrations was only significant after 8 hours when increasing from 3 to 6 g a day. The absence of a significant difference for the other average concentrations was due to the large interindividual variations. However, analysis of the individual results shows an increase of the serum concentrations parallel with that of the dose in 10 out of 12 patients. The effect of the dose seems to vary with the patient and the dose received. Blood samples taken 2 hours after each of the 3 daily drug intakes could give more information as to the serum concentrations susceptible to influence the parasite. The drug's half life, lying between 3.3 and 11.5 hours in 5 patients, is longer in case of major hepatic dysfunction, due to established hepatopathy. During the monitoring of 7 patients, the average serum levels were comparable with or higher than the initial concentration.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=4093204&dopt=Abstract mebendazole Vermox



Vermox
High-performance liquid chromatographic assay for the anthelmintic agent mebendazole in human plasma.

Alton KB, Patrick JE, McGuire JL.

A rapid and specific high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) assay for quantitative plasma mebendazole determination is described. After a simple extraction, the compound was analyzed by HPLC using a reversed-phase column and a UV detector (313 nm). Quantitation was accomplished using an internal standard; peak area ratios were determined with an integrating computer. The average mebendazole recovery over a concentration range of 0.01-0.20 microgram/ml was 75.9 +/- 3.8% SD, and the maximum assay sensitivity was approximately 10 ng/ml.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=458609&dopt=Abstract mebendazole Vermox



Vermox
Mebendazole.

Keystone JS, Murdoch JK.

The broad-spectrum of activity and safety of mebendazole remain, after 5 years of clinical experience, unique features of this anthelmintic. Through microtubular destruction, mebendazole kills helminths by inhibiting glucose uptake into susceptible parasites. The drug's poor absorption does not appear to affect clinical efficacy except, perhaps, in the treatment of systemic helminth infections. Mebendazole is generally considered the drug of choice for trichuriasis and has therapeutic advantages over other anthelmintics in the treatment of enterobiasis and hookworm infections. Although mebendazole is an effective agent against ascariasis, there are preferable alternatives. Among its nonapproved uses, mebendazole shows great promise in the treatment of capillariasis and hydatid disease. Further investigation is needed to establish its role in the treatment of taeniasis, Hymenolepsis nana, strongyloidiasis, trichinosis, and Dipetalonema perstans. Undoubtedly, mebendazole will find its greatest value in the treatment of patients with multiple helminth infections.

PIP: This paper focuses on recent developments in the areas of mode of action and clinical efficacy of mebendazole use since its introduction in 1974. Mebendazole blocks glucose uptake by adult intestinal-dwelling nematodes and cestodes and their tissue-dwelling larvae. The drug's poor absorption does not appear to affect clinical efficacy except in the treatment of systemic helminth infections. Mebendazole has been found to be ovicidal for the eggs of roundworm, hookworm, and whipworm with the disadvantages of cost and long duration of therapy; it is also considered the best drug for the treatment of trichuriasis. Among its nonapproved uses, it shows promise in the treatment of capillariasis and hydatid disease. Further investigation is needed to establish its role in the treatment of taeniasis, Hymenolepsis nana, Strongyloidiasis, Trichinosis, and Dipetalonema perstans. Side effects such as diarrhea, abdominal pain, headache, and dizziness have been reported on rare occasions.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=484964&dopt=Abstract mebendazole Vermox



Vermox
Flubendazole versus mebendazole in intestinal helminthic infections.

Feldmeier H, Bienzle U, Dohring E, Dietrich M.

In a double-blind study the vermicidal effect of flubendazole, a new benzimidazole derivative, was evaluated and compared to mebendazole. Both drugs were administered in a single dose of 600 mg. While in the treatment of Ascaris and hookworm infestations flubendazole and mebendazole showed a similar efficacy, mebendazole seemed to be slightly superior in the treatment of trichuriasis. Both drugs were well tolerated and no side effects were observed even in patients with a heavy worm load.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=6126101&dopt=Abstract mebendazole Vermox