mebendazole

Generic Name: mebendazole (me BEN da zole)

Brand Names: Vermox

What is mebendazole?

Mebendazole is an "antihelmintic," or anti-worm, medication. It prevents worms from growing or multiplying in your body.

Mebendazole is used to treat infections caused by worms such as whipworm, pinworm, roundworm, and hookworm. It is also used to treat infections caused by more than one of these worms at the same time.

Mebendazole may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

What is the most important information I should know about mebendazole?

Follow your doctor's instructions about treatment; about the washing of clothes, linens, and towels; and about household disinfecting. Pinworm infections are easily spread from one person to another.

Mebendazole tablets may be swallowed, chewed, or crushed and mixed with food.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking mebendazole?

Before taking mebendazole, tell your doctor about any other medical conditions that you have.

Mebendazole is in the FDA pregnancy category C. This means that it is not known whether it will be harmful to an unborn baby. Do not take mebendazole without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant or could become pregnant during treatment. It is not known whether mebendazole passes into breast milk and how it might affect a nursing baby. Do not take mebendazole without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby. Children younger than 2 years of age should not take mebendazole unless otherwise directed by your doctor.

How should I take mebendazole?

Take mebendazole exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not understand these directions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you.

Take each dose with a full glass of water.

Mebendazole tablets may be swallowed, chewed, or crushed and mixed with food.

Take all of the mebendazole that has been prescribed for you even if you begin to feel better. Your symptoms may start to improve before the infection is completely treated.

It may be up to 3 days after treatment before the worm is removed from your stomach and intestines. The amount of time it takes to cure the infection depends on how susceptible the worm is to mebendazole, and how quickly your own digestive system is moving. If the infection has not been cured within 3 weeks, a second treatment may be necessary.

Fasting, laxatives, and purging will not help cure this infection.

Treatment of family members and other close contacts may be necessary. Pinworm is spread very easily to others in close contact with the infected person.

To prevent reinfection, toilets must be disinfected daily, and clothing, linens, towels, and pajamas must be changed and washed daily.

Store mebendazole at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the dose you missed and take only the next regularly scheduled dose. Do not take a double dose of this medication.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention if an overdose is suspected.

Symptoms of a mebendazole overdose include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain.

What should I avoid while taking mebendazole?

Treatment of family members and other close contacts may be necessary. Pinworm is spread very easily to others in close contact with the infected person.

To prevent reinfection, toilets must be disinfected daily, and clothing, linens, towels, and pajamas must be changed and washed daily.

Mebendazole side effects

Stop taking mebendazole and seek emergency medical attention if you experience an allergic reaction (swelling of your lips, tongue, or face; shortness of breath; closing of your throat; or hives).

Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur. Continue to take mebendazole and talk to your doctor if you experience abdominal pain, diarrhea, or a fever.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Mebendazole Dosing Information

Usual Adult Dose for Angiostrongylosis:

100 mg orally twice a day for 5 days.

Usual Adult Dose for Ascariasis:

100 mg orally twice a day for 3 days. If biliary obstruction is also present, piperazine citrate 150 mg/kg initially, followed by 65 mg/kg every 12 hours for 6 doses by nasogastric tube is also recommended.

Usual Adult Dose for Capillariasis:

200 mg orally twice a day for 20 days. Relapses may be treated with prolonged courses of therapy.

Usual Adult Dose for Trichostrongylosis:

100 mg orally twice a day for 3 days.

Usual Adult Dose for Filariasis:

100 mg orally one time. This dose should be repeated in 2 weeks. All family members and close contacts should also be examined.

Mansonella perstans infection - 100 mg twice daily for 30 days.

Usual Adult Dose for Hookworm Infection (Necator or Ancylostoma):

100 mg orally twice a day for 3 days.

Usual Adult Dose for Whipworm Infection (Trichuris trichiura):

100 mg orally twice a day for 3 days.

Usual Adult Dose for Pinworm Infection (Enterobius vermicularis):

100 mg orally one time. This dose should be repeated in 2 weeks. All family members and close contacts should also be examined.

Usual Adult Dose for Trichinosis:

200 to 400 mg orally three times a day for 3 days, then 400 to 500 mg three times a day for 10 days. Concomitant steroid therapy may be administered if patient is symptomatic.

Usual Adult Dose for Visceral Larva Migrans (Toxicariasis):

100 to 200 mg orally twice daily for 5 days. Coadministration of anti-inflammatory agents might be considered.

Usual Adult Dose for Echinococcus Infection:

Case Series (n=769)
Hepatic Cystic infection - Larval (tissue stage): 40 to 50 mg/kg per day, administered in three divided doses, in conjunction with percutaneous aspiration-injection-reaspiration (PAIR) drainage, 1 week before and 4 weeks after PAIR drainage.

Usual Adult Dose for Hydatid Disease:

Case Series (n=769)
Hepatic Cystic infection - Larval (tissue stage): 40 to 50 mg/kg per day, administered in three divided doses, in conjunction with percutaneous aspiration-injection-reaspiration (PAIR) drainage, 1 week before and 4 weeks after PAIR drainage.

Usual Adult Dose for Dracunculiasis:

400 to 800 mg per day for 6 days.

Usual Pediatric Dose for Angiostrongylosis:

Greater than or equal to 2 years: 100 mg orally twice a day for 5 days.

Usual Pediatric Dose for Ascariasis:

Greater than or equal to 2 years: 100 mg orally twice a day for 3 days. If biliary obstruction is also present, piperazine citrate 150 mg/kg initially, followed by 65 mg/kg every 12 hours for 6 doses by nasogastric tube is also recommended.

Usual Pediatric Dose for Capillariasis:

Greater than or equal to 2 years: 200 mg orally twice a day for 20 days. Relapses may be treated with prolonged courses of therapy.

Usual Pediatric Dose for Filariasis:

Greater than or equal to 2 years: 100 mg orally one time. This dose should be repeated in 2 weeks. All family members and close contacts should also be examined.

Mansonella perstans infection - 100 mg twice daily for 30 days.

Usual Pediatric Dose for Hookworm Infection (Necator or Ancylostoma):

Greater than or equal to 2 years: 100 mg orally twice a day for 3 days.

Usual Pediatric Dose for Whipworm Infection (Trichuris trichiura):

Greater than or equal to 2 years: 100 mg orally twice a day for 3 days.

Usual Pediatric Dose for Pinworm Infection (Enterobius vermicularis):

Greater than or equal to 2 years: 100 mg orally one time. This dose should be repeated in 2 weeks. All family members and close contacts should also be examined.

Usual Pediatric Dose for Trichinosis:

Greater than or equal to 2 years: 200 to 400 mg orally three times daily for 3 days, then 400 to 500 mg three times daily for 10 days. Steroids may be administered if patient is symptomatic.

Cases (n=23) - Trichinella nativa infection:
1 to 14 years: 200 mg orally three times daily for the first 3 days, then 400 mg orally three times daily for another 11 days. Concomitant steroid therapy may be administered if patient is symptomatic.

Usual Pediatric Dose for Visceral Larva Migrans (Toxicariasis):

Greater than or equal to 2 years: 100 to 200 mg orally twice daily for 5 days. Coadministration of anti-inflammatory agents might be considered.

What other drugs will affect mebendazole?

Medicines used to treat seizures, such as phenytoin (Dilantin), ethotoin (Peganone), mephenytoin (Mesantoin), and carbamazepine (Tegretol), may decrease the effects of mebendazole. Tell your doctor if you are taking any of these medications so that your therapy can be monitored.

Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with mebendazole. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any prescription or over-the-counter medicines, including vitamins, minerals, and herbal products.

More mebendazole resources

• Mebendazole Side Effects (in more detail)
• Mebendazole Use in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
• Drug Images
• Mebendazole Drug Interactions
• Mebendazole Support Group
• 0 Reviews for Mebendazole - Add your own review/rating

• mebendazole Advanced Consumer (Micromedex) - Includes Dosage Information


• Mebendazole Prescribing Information (FDA)


• Mebendazole Professional Patient Advice (Wolters Kluwer)


• Mebendazole Monograph (AHFS DI)


• Mebendazole MedFacts Consumer Leaflet (Wolters Kluwer)


• Vermox Consumer Overview

Compare mebendazole with other medications

• Angiostrongylosis
• Ascariasis
• Capillariasis
• Dracunculiasis
• Echinococcus
• Filariasis, Elephantiasis
• Hookworm Infection, Necator or Ancylostoma
• Hydatid Disease
• Pinworm Infection, Enterobius vermicularis
• Trichinosis
• Trichostrongylosis
• Visceral Larva Migrans, Toxicariasis
• Whipworm Infection

Where can I get more information?

• Your pharmacist can provide more information about mebendazole.

See also: mebendazole side effects (in more detail)