Adult Dosing

Hydatid Disease

• 60 kg: 400 mg PO bid x cycle of 28 day on drug followed by 14 day off drug. Total 3 cycles
• < 60 kg: 15 mg/kg/day PO divided bid x a cycle of 28 day on drug followed by 14 day off drug. Total 3 cycles
• Max: 800 mg/day

• When administering albendazole in the pre- or post-surgical setting, optimal killing of cyst contents is achieved when 3 courses of therapy have been given
• In young children tablets should be crushed or chewed and swallowed with a drink of water

Neurocystericosis

• 60 kg: 400 mg PO bid x 8-30 days
• <60 kg: 15 mg/kg/day PO divided bid x 8-30 days
• Max: 800 mg/day

Note:

• In young children tablets should be crushed or chewed and swallowed with a drink of water

Pediatric Dosing

• Safety and effectiveness in pediatric patients <6 yrs of age have not been established

Hydatid Disease

• 60 kg: 400 mg PO bid x cycle of 28 day on drug followed by 14 day off drug. Total 3 cycles
• <60 kg: 15 mg/kg/day PO divided bid x a cycle of 28 day on drug followed by 14 days off drug. Total 3 cycles
• Max: 800 mg/day

• When administering albendazole in the pre- or post-surgical setting, optimal killing of cyst contents is achieved when 3 courses of therapy have been given
• In young children tablets should be crushed or chewed and swallowed with a drink of water

Neurocystericosis

• 60 kg: 400 mg PO bid x 8-30 days
• <60 kg: 15 mg/kg/day PO divided bid x 8-30 days
• Max: 800 mg/day

Note:

• In young children tablets should be crushed or chewed and swallowed with a drink of water

• Treatment of parenchymal neurocysticercosis, cystic hydatid disease

• Hypersensitivity to any of the ingredients of the product/class of drug

• N/A

Renal Dose Adjustment

• Renal impairment: Dose adjustments not defined

Hepatic Dose Adjustment

• Hepatic impairment: Dose adjustments not defined, caution advised

See Supplemental Patient Information

• Bone marrow suppression, aplastic anemia and agranulocytosis have occurred in patients with and without underlying hepatic dysfunction
• Monitor blood counts at the beginning of each 28 day cycle of therapy and every 2 weeks while on therapy
• Patients with liver disease, including hepatic echinococcosis are more prone for bone marrow suppression leading to pancytopenia, aplastic anemia, agranulocytosis, and leukopenia, discontinue treatment if blood count decreases
• Obtain (-) pregnancy test first. Avoid pregnancy during or for at least 1 month after stopping; discontinue if pregnancy occurs. If pregnancy occurs while taking this drug, patient should be apprised of the potential hazard to the fetus
• Neurological symptoms such as seizures, increased intracranial pressure and focal signs as a result of an inflammatory reaction caused by death of the parasite within the brain. Start immediately appropriate steroid and anticonvulsant therapy if symptoms persist
• Examine for retinal lesions before initiating therapy for neurocysticercosis. If lesions are visualized, anticysticeral therapy should be weighed against the possibility of retinal damage caused by albendazole-induced changes to the retinal lesion

Cautions: Use cautiously in

• Prolong use
• Impaired liver function
• Pregnancy
• Women of childbearing

Supplemental Patient Information

• In young children tablets should be crushed or chewed and swallowed with a drink of water
• Inform patients that drug may cause fetal harm, hence, women of childbearing age should begin treatment after a (-) pregnancy test

Pregnancy Category:C

Breastfeeding: Albendazole and its active metabolite are minimally excreted into breastmilk. An informal consultation group to the WHO that a single oral dose of albendazole can be given to lactating women. This information is based upon data from LactMed database (available at http://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/sis/htmlgen?LACT last accessed 24 January 2011). Manufacture advise caution.

• GI: Abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, hepatic echinococcosis
• HEMA: Neutropenia, agranulocytosis, leukopenia, granulocytopenia, pancytopenia, agranulocytosis, thrombocytopenia
• CNS: Headache, dizziness, vertigo, intracranial pressure, convulsions, seizures
• DERM: Alopecia
• HYPERSENSITIVITY: Rash, urticaria
• MISC: Fever

• Anthelmintic; inhibitory effect on tubulin polymerization, resulting in loss of cytoplasmic microtubules
• Metabolized by liver
• Renally excreted: <1%; bile
• Half-life: 8-12 hrs

US Trade Name(s)

• Albenza

US Availability

Albenza

• TABS: 200 mg

Canadian Trade Name(s)

• N/A

Canadian Availability

• N/A

UK Trade Name(s)

• N/A

UK Availability

• N/A

Australian Trade Name(s)

• Eskazole
• Zentel

Australian Availability

Eskazole

• CHEW TABS: 400 mg

Zentel

• CHEW TABS: 200 mg

Antimicrobials

Antiparasitics

Antihelmintics

Infectious Disease

Antiparasitics

Antihelmintics

Pricing data from www.DrugStore.com in U.S.A.

• Albenza 200 MG TABS [Bottle] (AMEDRA PHARMACEUTICALS)
  30 mg = $780.03
  90 mg = $2299.86

Warning: This pricing information is subject to change at the sole discretion of DS Pharmacy. For the most current and up-to-date pricing information, please visit drugstore.com.

Drug Name: Albenza 200 MG Oral Tablet

Ingredient(s): Albendazole

Imprint: SB;5500

Color(s): White

Shape: Round

Size (mm): 12.00

Score: 1

Inactive Ingredient(s): carnauba wax / hypromellose / lactose monohydrate / magnesium stearate / cellulose, microcrystalline / povidone / sodium lauryl sulfate / saccharin sodium / sodium starch glycolate type a potato / starch, corn

Drug Label Author:
GlaxoSmithKline LLC

DEA Schedule:
Non-Scheduled