Mebendazole (Vermox)

• Type of Drug: Anthelmintic.
• Prescribed for: Whipworm, pinworm, roundworm, hookworm, or mixed-worm infections.

Mebendazole General Information

This drug blocks the mechanism by which susceptible worms get sugar, effectively starving the organism as time passes. This is a slow process; it may take 3 days or more for the worm to be eliminated from your body. Most of the drug passes out of the body unchanged in the feces.

Mebendazole Cautions and Warnings

Do not take this drug if you are sensitive or allergic to it.

Possible Side Effects

Side effects are infrequent and passing. Most common are pain and diarrhea in cases of massive infection. Fever has also occurred.

Mebendazole Drug Interactions

Carbamazepine and Phenytoin-type drugs may reduce blood levels of Mebendazole, possibly interfering with the drug’s effect.

Food Interactions

Chew or crush the Mebendazole tablet and mix it with food, especially fatty food, to increase the amount of drug absorbed.

Usual Dose

One tablet morning and night for 3 days in a row. One kind of worm infection may be treated with a single tablet.

Overdosage

Stomach cramps and pain may develop several hours after an overdose. Overdose victims should be given Syrup of Ipecac, available at any pharmacy, to induce vomiting and remove the drug from your system. Call your local poison control center for more information.

MebendazoleSpecial Information

The same dosage is taken by everyone who takes this product, regardless of age.

Each dose of Mebendazole should be chewed or crushed and taken with food.

In the case of pinworm infection, all family members will have to take 3 days’ worth of Mebendazole, even if only 1 member was infected, and a second treatment will be needed 2 or 3 weeks later. Wash (don’t shake) all bedclothes after treatment to prevent reinfection.

In the case of hookworm or whipworm, take an Iron supplement every day during treatment and possibly for up to 6 months after treatment is completed if you are anemic.

Call your doctor if you don’t start to get better in a few days. If the infection is not cured in 3 weeks, another course of treatment may be needed.

It is essential that you follow the dosage schedule prescribed by your doctor. If you forget a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the forgotten dose and continue with your regular schedule. Don’t take a double dose.

Mebendazole Special Populations

Pregnancy/Breast-feeding
This drug is toxic to animal fetuses and causes malformations in those animals. It is not recommended for use by women who are pregnant and should be used only if absolutely necessary.
It is not known if Mebendazole passes into breast milk. Nursing mothers should take this drug with caution.

Seniors
Seniors may use this medicine without restriction.