Benmox Suspension
Albendazole
200 mg/5 ml
Goodman Pharmaceuticals Ltd.
| Pack size | 10 ml |
|---|---|
| Dispensing mode | |
| Source | |
| Agent | |
| Retail Price | 20.00 AED |
Available as:
Indications
Benmox Suspension is used for:
Helminthiasis, Echinococcosis, Neurocysticercosis, Enterobiasis, Ascariasis, Hookworm infections, Strongyloidiasis, Giardiasis, Filariasis
Adult Dose
Oral
Ancylostoma, Ascariasis, Hookworm, Trichostrongylus, Enterobius (Pinworm)
400 mg PO once as a single dose
Tapeworm infections
Adult: 400 mg daily on an empty stomach for 3 consecutive days.
Max: 400 mg daily; 1200 mg for 3 days.
If patient is not cured after 3 weeks, a second course of treatment is needed. In cases of Hymenolepis nana infestations, retreatment in 10-21 days is recommended.
Strogyloidiasis or taeniasis - 400 mg once daily for three consecutive days.
Giardiasis - 400 mg once daily for five days.
Hydatid disease (Echinococcosis)
Adult:
<60 kg: 15 mg/kg daily in 2 divided doses. Max: 800 mg/day.
>60 kg: 400 mg bid.
Admin dose for three 28-day cycles w/ a 14-day drug-free interval in between each cycle.
Neurocysticercosis
Adult:
<60 kg: 15 mg/kg daily in 2 divided doses (max: 800 mg/day) for 8-30 days.
>60 kg: 400 mg bid for 8-30 days.
Larva Migrans, Cutaneous & Trichuriasis
400 mg PO qDay x 3 days
Larva Migrans, Visceral
400 mg PO BID x 5 days
Fluke (Clonorchis Sinensis)
10 mg/kg PO qDay x7 days
Gnathostomiasis, Microsporidiosis
400 mg BID x 21 days
Child Dose
Child:
Usually
PO 15 mg/kg/day (max 800 mg/day) q12h
Oral
Ascariasis, Enterobiasis, Trichuriasis, Hookworm infections
Child:
1-2 years 200 mg as a single dose. OR 5 ml suspension
2 years 400 mg PO once as a single dose OR 10 ml suspension
Max: 200 mg.
Tapeworm infections
Child: >2 years: 400 mg daily on an empty stomach for 3 consecutive days.
Max: 400 mg daily; 1200 mg for 3 days.
If patient is not cured after 3 weeks, a second course of treatment is needed.
In cases of Hymenolepis nana infestations, retreatment in 10-21 days is recommended.
Renal Dose
Administration
Should be taken with food.
Contra Indications
Pregnancy and lactation. Neonates. Hypersensitivity, liver impairment.
Precautions
Potential for bone marrow suppression, aplastic anemia & agranulocytosis; monitor blood counts in all patients at the beginning of each 28-day cycle of therapy, and every 2 weeks while on therapy; discontinue therapy if clinically significant changes in blood counts occur
Pre-existing neurocysticercosis may be uncovered in patients treated w/ albendazole for other conditions, apparent by neurological symptoms (eg, seizures, increased intracranial pressure, focal signs); promptly treat w/ corticosteroid & anticonvulsant therapy
Obtain pregnancy test in women of reproductive potential prior to therapy and avoid usage in pregnant women except in clinical circumstances where no alternative management is appropriate; discontinue therapy if pregnancy occurs and apprise patient of potential hazard to fetus
Risk of retinal damage in retinal cysticercosis; cases of retinal involvement reported; examine patient for presence of retinal lesions before initiating therapy for neurocysticercosis
Reversible elevations of liver enzymes may occur; monitor liver enzymes before start of each treatment cycle and at least every 2 weeks while on therapy and discontinue if clinically significant elevations occur; patients with abnormal LFTs and hepatic echinococcosis are at increased risk of hepatotoxicity; discontinue therapy if LFT elevations >2 times upper limit of normal; may consider restarting treatment when LFT values return to pretreatment levels
Monitoring Parameters
Monitor: CBC, LFTs
Monitor liver enzymes before start of each treatment cycle and at least every 2 weeks while on therapy
Monitor theophylline levels if used concomitantly.
Pregnancy-Lactation
Pregnancy
Based on findings from animal reproduction studies, the drug may cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman; however, available human data from a small number of published case series and reports on the use of multipledose in the first trimester of pregnancy, and several published studies on single-dose use later in pregnancy, have not identified any drug-associated risks for major birth defects, miscarriage, or adverse maternal or fetal outcomes
Pregnancy testing is recommended for females of reproductive potential prior to initiating therapy
Contraception
Females: May cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman; advise females of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment and for 3 days after the final dose
Animal data
In animal reproductive studies, oral administration of albendazole during the period of organogenesis caused embryotoxicity and skeletal malformations in pregnant rats (at doses of 0.10 times and 0.32 times the maximum recommended human dose based on body surface area in mg/m2) and pregnant rabbits (at doses of 0.60 times the maximum recommended human dose based on body surface area in mg/m2); drug was also associated with maternal toxicity in rabbits (at doses of 0.60 times recommended human dose based on body surface area in mg/m2); advise a pregnant woman of potential risk to fetus
Lactation
Concentrations of the drug and active metabolite, albendazole sulfoxide, are reported to be low in human breast milk; there are no reports of adverse effects on breastfed infants and no information on effects on milk production
Developmental and health benefits of breastfeeding should be considered along with the mother’s clinical need and any potential adverse effects on the breastfed infant from drugs or from the underlying maternal condition
Interactions
Increased serum concentrations w/ dexamethasone, praziquantel and cimetidine. Decreased serum concentrations w/ aminoquinoline (antimalarials), carbamazepine, phenobarbital, and phenytoin.
Contraindicated (0)
Serious - Use Alternative (1)
ropeginterferon alfa 2b
Adverse Effects
Side effects of Albendazole :
>10%
Headache,Neurocysticercosis (11%),Hydatid disease (1.3%),Abnormal LFT,Hydatid disease (15.6%),Neurocysticercosis (<1%)
1-10%
Abdominal pain,Hydatid disease (6%),Nausea/vomiting,Hydatid disease (3.7%),Neurocysticercosis (6.2%),Dizziness/vertigo,Hydatid disease (1.2%),Neurocysticercosis (<1%),Increased intracranial pressure,Neurocysticercosis (1%),Meningeal signs,Neurocysticercosis (1%),Alopecia (reversible),Hydatid disease (1.6%),Neurocysticercosis (<1%),Fever,Hydatid disease (1%)
<1% (selected)
Rash,Urticaria,Agranulocytosis,Aplastic anemia,Bone marrow suppression,Granulocytopenia,Pancytopenia,Thrombocytopenia,Hepatitis,Acute liver failure,Acute renal failure
Potentially Fatal: Bone marrow depression.
Mechanism of Action
Albendazole sulfoxide (active metabolite), causes selective degeneration of cytoplasmic microtubules in intestinal and tegmental cells of intestinal helminths and larvae; glycogen is depleted, glucose uptake and cholinesterase secretion are impaired and desecratory substances accumulate intracellulary. ATP production decreases, causing energy depletion, immobilisation and worm death.
Note
Benmox 200 mg/5 ml Suspension manufactured by Goodman Pharmaceuticals Ltd.. Its generic name is Albendazole. Benmox is availble in Bangladesh.
Farmaco BD drug index information on Benmox Suspension is not intended for diagnosis, medical advice or treatment; neither intended to be a substitute for the exercise of professional judgment.