• Neurocysticercosis.
• Hydatid disease.

Contraindicated in:

• Hypersensitivity
• Hepatic dysfunction
• Neurocysticercosis involving the retina
• OB: Pregnancy (may cause fetal harm).

Use Cautiously in:

• Lactation: Use while breastfeeding only if potential maternal benefit justifies potential risk to infant
• Rep: Women of reproductive potential
• Pedi: Has been used safely in children <6 yr.

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:

• Dexamethasone and praziquantel may ↑ levels.
• May ↓ levels of theophylline.

Drug-Food:

• Levels ↑ by concurrent ingestion of a high-fat meal.

(Generic available)

• Tablets: 200 mg;

Hydatid Disease

• PO (Adults and Children 60 kg): 400 mg twice daily with meals for 28 days, followed by 14 days off, for a total of 3 cycles.
• PO (Adults and Children <60 kg): 15 mg/kg/day given in 2 divided doses with meals (maximum daily dose = 800 mg) for 28 days, followed by 14 days off, for a total of 3 cycles.

Neurocysticercosis

• PO (Adults and Children 60 kg): 400 mg twice daily with meals for 8–30 days.
• PO (Adults and Children <60 kg): 15 mg/kg/day given in 2 divided doses with meals (maximum daily dose = 800 mg) for 8–30 days.

Albenza

• Inhibits tubulin polymerization, resulting in the loss of cytoplasmic microtubules.

• Death of affected larval form of susceptible parasites.

Spectrum:

• Echinococcus granulosus (dog tapeworm).
• Taenia solium (pork tapeworm).

Therapeutic Classification:

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.

(blood levels of albendazole sulfoxide)

• Instruct patient to take medication with a fatty food exactly as directed.
• Caution patients to notify health care professional if signs of hepatotoxicity (e.g. jaundice, dark urine, light-colored bowel movement, anorexia, nausea, abdominal pain) occur.
• Rep: Advise patient to use contraception during and for at least 3 days after last dose. May cause fetal harm. Advise patient to notify health care professional if pregnancy is planned or suspected or if breastfeeding.
• Emphasize the importance of regular blood tests to check WBCs and hepatic function.

al-BEN-da-zole

NDC Code^*

• 0115- Amneal Pharmaceuticals of New York LLC
  • 0115-1701- Albendazole
    • 0115-1701-49- 2 TABLET, FILM COATED in 1 BOTTLE (0115-1701-49)

• 0591- Actavis Pharma, Inc.
  • 0591-2712- Albendazole
    • 0591-2712-02- 2 TABLET, FILM COATED in 1 BOTTLE (0591-2712-02)

• 16714- Northstar Rx LLC.
  • 16714-907- Albendazole
    • 16714-907-01- 1 BLISTER PACK in 1 BOTTLE (16714-907-01) > 2 TABLET, FILM COATED in 1 BLISTER PACK

• 31722- Camber Pharmaceuticals
  • 31722-935- Albendazole 200 mg
    • 31722-935-02- 2 TABLET, FILM COATED in 1 BOTTLE (31722-935-02)

• 31722- Camber Pharmaceuticals
  • 31722-935- Albendazole 200 mg
    • 31722-935-28- 28 TABLET, FILM COATED in 1 BOTTLE (31722-935-28)

• 42799- Edenbridge Pharmaceuticals LLC.
  • 42799-110- Albendazole
    • 42799-110-02- 2 TABLET in 1 BOTTLE (42799-110-02)

• 51407- Golden State Medical Supply Inc.
  • 51407-258- Albendazole
    • 51407-258-02- 2 TABLET in 1 BOTTLE (51407-258-02)

• 52054- Amedra Pharmaceuticals LLC
  • 52054-550- ALBENZA
    • 52054-550-22- 2 TABLET, FILM COATED in 1 BOTTLE (52054-550-22)

• 54505- Lineage Therapeutics Inc
  • 54505-055- Albendazole
    • 54505-055-22- 2 TABLET, FILM COATED in 1 BOTTLE (54505-055-22)

• 54505- Lineage Therapeutics Inc
  • 54505-055- Albendazole
    • 54505-055-28- 28 TABLET, FILM COATED in 1 BOTTLE (54505-055-28)

• 64896- Amneal Pharmaceuticals LLC
  • 64896-693- ALBENZA
    • 64896-693-49- 2 TABLET, FILM COATED in 1 BOTTLE (64896-693-49)

• 69097- Cipla USA Inc.
  • 69097-237- ALBENDAZOLE
    • 69097-237-72- 2 TABLET in 1 BOTTLE (69097-237-72)

• 69097- Cipla USA Inc.
  • 69097-237- ALBENDAZOLE
    • 69097-237-73- 28 TABLET in 1 BOTTLE (69097-237-73)

• 70710- Zydus Pharmaceuticals (USA) Inc.
  • 70710-1021- Albendazole
    • 70710-1021-1- 100 TABLET, FILM COATED in 1 BOTTLE (70710-1021-1)

• 70710- Zydus Pharmaceuticals (USA) Inc.
  • 70710-1021- Albendazole
    • 70710-1021-5- 500 TABLET, FILM COATED in 1 BOTTLE (70710-1021-5)

• 70710- Zydus Pharmaceuticals (USA) Inc.
  • 70710-1021- Albendazole
    • 70710-1021-7- 28 TABLET, FILM COATED in 1 BOTTLE (70710-1021-7)

• 70710- Zydus Pharmaceuticals (USA) Inc.
  • 70710-1021- Albendazole
    • 70710-1021-8- 1 BLISTER PACK in 1 BOTTLE (70710-1021-8) > 2 TABLET, FILM COATED in 1 BLISTER PACK

• 70771- Cadila Healthcare Limited
  • 70771-1103- Albendazole
    • 70771-1103-1- 100 TABLET, FILM COATED in 1 BOTTLE (70771-1103-1)

• 70771- Cadila Healthcare Limited
  • 70771-1103- Albendazole
    • 70771-1103-5- 500 TABLET, FILM COATED in 1 BOTTLE (70771-1103-5)

• 70771- Cadila Healthcare Limited
  • 70771-1103- Albendazole
    • 70771-1103-7- 28 TABLET, FILM COATED in 1 BOTTLE (70771-1103-7)

• 70771- Cadila Healthcare Limited
  • 70771-1103- Albendazole
    • 70771-1103-8- 1 BLISTER PACK in 1 BOTTLE (70771-1103-8) > 2 TABLET, FILM COATED in 1 BLISTER PACK

• 72689- OASIS TRADING
  • 72689-0036- ZENTEL
    • 72689-0036-1- 2 TABLET in 1 BLISTER PACK (72689-0036-1)

• 76413- Central Texas Community Health Centers
  • 76413-145- ALBENZA
    • 76413-145-01- 1 TABLET, FILM COATED in 1 BOTTLE (76413-145-01)

• 76413- Central Texas Community Health Centers
  • 76413-145- ALBENZA
    • 76413-145-02- 2 TABLET, FILM COATED in 1 BOTTLE (76413-145-02)