Dizziness praziquantel

The safety of praziquantel in children under age 4 years is not established, but no specific problems in young children have been documented. Indeed, the drug appears to be better tolerated in children than in adults. Praziquantel increased abortion rates in rats and therefore should be avoided in pregnancy if possible. Because the drug induces dizziness and drowsiness, patients should not drive during therapy and should be warned regarding activities requiring particular physical coordination or alertness. 

Praziquantel paralyses both adult worms and larvae. It is extensively metabolised. Praziquantel may cause nausea, headache, dizziness and drowsiness it cures with a single dose (or divided doses in one day). 

A one-day intensive course of praziquantel has been used experimentally, but results vary, and when there are multiple brain cysts present the outcome is poor (4). When used for this purpose in a dose of 25 mg/kg at 2-hour intervals, adverse effects included mild headache, dizziness, nausea, and vomiting. AH the adverse effects remitted with analgesics or dexamethasone 0.2 mg/kg/day and continued for 2 days. 

Dose-dependent dizziness is a recognized effect in some 14% of cases at higher doses of praziquantel (SEDA-12, 267). Patients predisposed to epUepsy may develop convulsions, probably as a reaction to the death of the parasite (15). Headache (40%) and drowsiness (25 0%) have been common in some studies and the manufacturers warn against driving or operating machinery while taking praziquantel. 

Praziquantel is a well tolerated and safe drug. However, it may produce some side effects, the most common of which are abdominal pain, nausea, anorexia, diarrhea or loose stools, dizziness, headache, pruritis, skin eruption and fever, which appear shortly after the drug administration [81,83]. These side effects are usually mild and dose related and disappear within 24 hours. Praziquantel has been found to be free of mutagenic, carcinogenic and teratogenic effects [81,83,84]. 

TOXICITY, PRECAUTIONS, AND INTERACTIONS Abdominal discomfort, nausea, diarrhea, headache, dizziness, and drowsiness may occur shortly after taking praziquantel these direct effects are transient and dose-related. Indirect effects such as fever, pruritus, urticaria, rashes, arthralgia, and myalgia are noted occasionally and are related to parasite burden. In neurocysticer-cosis, inflammatory reactions to praziquantel may produce meningismus, seizures, mental changes, and CSF pleocytosis. These effects usually are delayed in onset, last 2-3 days, and respond to symptomatic therapy such as analgesics and anticonvulsants. 

Toxicity Common adverse effeets include headache, dizziness, malaise, and, less frequently, gastrointestinal irritation, skin rash, and fever. Praziquantel is contraindieated in oeular eysticercosis. 

The most common toxic effects of praziquantel are malaise, headache, dizziness, gastrointestinal irritation, urticaria, and fever. Some of these effects may be caused by dying parasites. 

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