Antihelminthic drugs

Thiabendazole, a benzimidazole derivative, is an antihelminthic drug used primarily to treat infections caused by... 

Levamisole (Ergamisol) was originally developed as an antihelminthic drug (see Chapter 54). It potentiates the stimulatory effects of antigens, mitogens, lymphokines, and chemotactic factors on lymphocytes, granulocytes, and macrophages. It has been shown to increase T cell-mediated immunity. 

Chapter 53 Clinical Pharmacology of the Antihelminthic Drugs Chapter 54 Cancer Chemotherapy Chapter 55 Immunopharmacology... 

Basic and Clinical Pharmacology > Chapter 53. Clinical Pharmacology of the Antihelminthic Drugs > ... 

The crucial role of this export system in protecting the brain can be illustrated by the use of specially bred mice in which the gene for p-glycoprotein is knocked out. When normal and knockout mice are exposed to the antihelminthic drug ivermectin, the null mice experience neurotoxic effects at doses 100 times less than the normal animals and also have levels of the drug in the brain almost 100 times those in the normal (wild type) mice. 

Albendazole, mebendazole and thiabendazole which are described under Antihelminthic drugs (p.276). 

As with other antihelminthic drugs, the general adverse effects of albendazole can reflect the destruction of the parasite rather than a direct action of the drug pyrexia is likely to be seen, even in the absence of other problems. Albendazole was well tolerated in 30-day courses of 10-14 mg/kg/day separated by 2-week intervals. 

Amocarzine is an antifilarial antihelminthic drug, derived from amoscanate, that is active against the adult worms of Onchocerca volvulus. 

Artemisia cina (wormseed) contains the toxic lactone, santonin, which was formerly used as an antihelminthic drug, but has now been superseded by other less toxic compounds. 

Artemisia vulgaris (common wormwood) contains the toxic lactone, santonin, which was formerly used as an antihelminthic drug, but has now been superseded by other less toxic compounds. Depending on the origin of the plant, 1,8-cineole, camphor, hnalool, and thujone may all be major components. Allergic skin reactions (12) and abortive activity have been described. 

Dichlorophen is an antihelminthic drug that was used in the treatment of tapeworm infections but has been superseded by praziquantel and niclosamide. It also has antifungal and antibacterial activity and has been used topically in the treatment of fungal infections and as a germicide in soaps and cosmetics (1). 

Diethylcarbamazine is an antihelminthic drug used in the treatment of filarial infections. With some infecting species it is effective in both the adult and microfilarial stages, whilst with others it is active only against the microfilarial stages and does not eradicate the infection. 

Hexachloroparaxylene has been used in China and Russia as an antihelminthic drug, principally to treat the liver fluke infections (clonorchiasis due to Clonorchis sinensis, schistosomiasis due to Schistosoma japonicum, and opisthorchiasis due to Opisthorchiidae (1,2). However, other treatments are preferred. It is also used very extensively in the veterinary field in Russia. 

Levamisole is the levorotatory isomer of tetramisole. Originally used only as an antihelminthic drug, it acts by paralysing the musculature of susceptible nematodes so that they are expelled by peristalsis. It is rapidly metabolized and excreted, with a half-hfe of about 4 hours. 

Pyrvinium is a deep-red insoluble dye used as an antihelminthic drug. It is well tolerated in doses up to 5 mg/ kg. Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and cramping abdominal pain are more frequent at higher doses. Feces and vomit are stained red. Isolated cases of severe allergy (1), transient photosensitivity, and Stevens-Johnson syndrome (2) have been reported. 

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