al-BEN-da-zole 
Contraindicated in:
Use Cautiously in:
Derm: reversible alopecia.
GI: ↑ liver enzymes (↑ in hydatid disease), abdominal pain (hydatid disease only), nausea/vomiting (↑ in neurocysticercosis).
Hemat: AGRANULOCYTOSIS, GRANULOCYTOPENIA, PANCYTOPENIA.
Neuro: headache (↑ in neurocysticercosis), ↑ intracranial pressure (↑ in neurocysticercosis), dizziness/vertigo, meningeal signs (in neurocysticercosis only).
Misc: fever (hydatid disease only).
Drug-Drug:
Drug-Food:
Hydatid Disease
Neurocysticercosis
Spectrum:
Absorption: Poorly absorbed following oral administration because of extensive first-pass hepatic metabolism, resulting in rapid conversion to albendazole sulfoxide, the active metabolite.
Distribution: Widely distributed.
Protein Binding: 70% bound to plasma proteins.
Metabolism/Excretion: After conversion to the sulfoxide metabolite, further hepatic metabolism to inactive compounds occurs. <1% excreted in urine; excretion is primarily via bile.
Half-life: Albendazole sulfoxide: 8–12 hr.
NDC Code*