Mebendazole interactions

Mebendazole Accidental mebendazole poisoning in infants is associated with convulsions, respiratory arrest, and tachyarrhythmia.181 If administered concomitantly, mebendazole interacts with phenytoin, carbamazepine, and cimetidine. 

MEBENDAZOLE H2 RECEPTOR BLOCKERS-CIMETIDINE t mebendazole levels Inhibition of metabolism Be aware cases where this interaction have been used therapeutically... 

The OTC drugs available contain anthelmintics, such as mebendazole and piperazine (no known interactions). 

For interactions of mebendazole, See Drugs to Treat Infections, Other antiprotozoals... 

Schneider D, Gannon R, Sweeney K, Shore E. Theophylline and antiparasitic drug interactions. A case report and study of the influence of thiabendazole and mebendazole on theophyUine pharmacokinetics in adults. Chest 1990 97(l) 84-7. 

Clinically important, potentially hazardous interactions with adenosine, arformoterol, BCG vaccine, capsicum, carbimazole, cimetidine, ciprofloxacin, clorazepate, cocoa, erythromycin, eucalyptus, fluvoxamine, halothane, influenza vaccines, mebendazole, methylprednisolone, nilutamide, oral contraceptives, prednisolone, prednisone, rasagiline, raspberry leaf, roxithromycin, St John s wort, torasemide, torsemide... 

It is suggested that the interaction is caused by the enzyme inhibitory ae-tions of cimetidine, which result in a reduetion in the metabolism of albendazole and mebendazole. Cimetidine may also reduee albendazole absorption and minimise inter-patient variability by redueing gastrie aeid-ity, but the reduction in absorption appears to be outweighed by the enzyme-inhibitory effects. 

Luder PJ, Siffert B, Witassek F, Meister F, Bircher J Treatment of hydatid disease with high oral doses of mebendazole. Long-term follow-up of plasma mebendazole levels and dri interactions. EurJ Clin Pharmacd (1986) 31,443-8. 

These pharmacokinetic interactions are established, and are likely to be clinically important when these anthelmintics are used to treat systemic worm infections. For these infections it may be necessary to increase the albendazole or mebendazole dosage in patients taking phenytoin, carbamazepine or phenobarbital. Monitor the outcome of concurrent use. The interactions are of no importance when these anthelmintics are used for intestinal worm infections (where their action is a local effect on the worms in the gut), which is the most common use of mebendazole in particular. 

The information is limited to this report, which does not establish an interaction. However, Stevens-Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis is a serious condition, and therefore, the manufacturer of mebendazole states that the concurrent use of mebendazole and metronidazole should be avoided. Caution would certainly seem appropriate if both drugs are considered essential. 

Theophylline serum levels can be markedly increased by fiaben-dazole and toxicity may develop. Neither albendazole nor mebendazole appear to interact with theophylline. 

A study in 6 healthy subjects found that the pharmacokinetics of a single dose of intravenous aminophylline were unaffected hy mebendazole 100 mg twice daily for 3 days. The absence of a significant interaction was reported in another similar study using the same mebendazole dos-age.2... 

Corti N, Heck A, Rentsch K, Zingg W, letter A, Stieger B, Pauli-Magnus C. Effect of ritonavir on the pharmacokinetics of the benzimidazoles albendazole and mebendazole an interaction study in healthy volunteers. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 2009 65(10) 999-1006. 

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