BENDAZOLE 100/MG TAB 6/TAB

Indications

Approved Uses

Intestinal nematode infections: enterobiasis (Enterobius vermicularis), trichuriasis (Trichuris trichiura), ascariasis (Ascaris lumbricoides), and hookworm infections (Ancylostoma duodenale, Necator americanus), including single or mixed infections.

Off-Label Uses

Off-label uses reported in references include trichinellosis and some tissue helminth infections (e.g., toxocariasis/visceral larva migrans, cutaneous larva migrans, capillariasis, gnathostomiasis), typically with specialist oversight and often higher/prolonged dosing; giardiasis is not a standard evidence-based use.

Dosage & Administration

Dosing by Condition

Enterobiasis (pinworm): 100 mg orally once; repeat once after 2 weeks. Ascariasis/Trichuriasis/Hookworm (and mixed intestinal infections): 100 mg orally twice daily for 3 days.

Initial Dose

100 mg orally as a single dose (enterobiasis) OR 100 mg orally twice daily for 3 days (other common intestinal helminth infections); may repeat enterobiasis dose after 2 weeks if needed.

Maintenance Dose

No maintenance dose; 100mg twice daily for 3 consecutive days for most helminth infections

Maximum Dose

200 mg/day orally (100 mg twice daily) for routine intestinal helminth infections; higher doses are specialist-only for echinococcosis.

Children's Dosage

Children ≥2 years: same as adult dosing (100mg single dose for enterobiasis; 100mg twice daily for 3 days for other infections). Not recommended under 2 years of age

Dose Adjustment Notes

Renal impairment: no dosage adjustment generally required. Hepatic impairment: use with caution (especially moderate-severe hepatic disease) due to hepatic metabolism and potential increased exposure; avoid prolonged/high-dose regimens without monitoring.

How to Take

Oral tablet may be swallowed whole, chewed, or crushed and mixed with food; may be taken with or without food. For enterobiasis (pinworm), treat all household/close contacts simultaneously and repeat the dose after the recommended interval to reduce reinfection.

Side Effects

Common Side Effects

Common: abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, flatulence/gas; may also include headache and rash (less common).

Side Effect Frequency

Common: abdominal pain; Uncommon: GI upset (diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, flatulence), rash/urticaria; Rare/very rare: elevated LFTs/hepatitis, neutropenia/agranulocytosis (esp. prolonged/high-dose), severe hypersensitivity including SJS/TEN, alopecia; dizziness/convulsions reported rarely.

Safety & Warnings

Contraindications

Known hypersensitivity to mebendazole/benzimidazoles or any excipients.

Warnings & Precautions

Avoid concomitant metronidazole; avoid/limit use in 1st trimester pregnancy; use only with physician supervision in children <2 years (rare convulsions reported in infants); with prolonged/high-dose therapy monitor CBC and liver function; stop and seek care if rash or hypersensitivity occurs; for enterobiasis consider treating close contacts and hygiene measures to prevent reinfection.

Age Restriction

Avoid routine use in children <2 years; use only if clearly indicated and under physician supervision.

Driving Warning

Safe

Drug Interactions

Drug Interactions

Metronidazole (avoid-rare severe cutaneous reactions incl. SJS/TEN), cimetidine (may increase mebendazole levels), carbamazepine and phenytoin (may decrease mebendazole levels).

Interaction Severity

Serious/avoid: metronidazole (reported increased risk of severe cutaneous adverse reactions such as SJS/TEN). Moderate: cimetidine (may increase mebendazole levels); carbamazepine/phenytoin (may decrease mebendazole levels and efficacy).

Food Interaction

May be taken with or without food; high-fat meals can increase systemic absorption/exposure.

Special Populations

Pregnancy

Caution

Breastfeeding

Caution

Children

Children ≥2 years: same as adult dosing (100mg single dose for enterobiasis; 100mg twice daily for 3 days for other infections). Not recommended under 2 years of age

Elderly

Standard adult dosing.

Kidney Impairment

No adjustment needed.

Liver Impairment

No specific dose adjustment defined; use with caution in hepatic impairment (exposure may increase), especially with prolonged/high-dose therapy.

Storage & Patient Advice

Missed Dose

Take the missed dose as soon as remembered; if it is close to the next scheduled dose, skip the missed dose and resume the regular schedule-do not double doses.

Stopping the Medicine

Do not stop early; complete the prescribed regimen and stop after the course is finished unless adverse effects occur or the prescriber advises otherwise.

Overdose

Likely GI symptoms (abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea); manage with supportive care, consider decontamination (e.g., activated charcoal/gastric lavage) if recent ingestion; no specific antidote-seek urgent medical care.

Patient Counseling

Take exactly as prescribed and complete the regimen. Tablet can be swallowed, chewed, or crushed/mixed with food. For pinworm: treat all household/close contacts at the same time, repeat the dose after 2 weeks, and reinforce hygiene (handwashing, laundering bedding/underwear, nail hygiene) to prevent reinfection. Seek medical care urgently for rash/blistering or other signs of severe allergy; inform the prescriber if pregnant/planning pregnancy.

Monitoring Requirements

For high-dose or prolonged therapy, monitoring of blood counts (for neutropenia) and liver function tests is recommended. No routine monitoring for standard short-course treatment.

Pharmacology

Mechanism of Action

Binds parasite β-tubulin and inhibits microtubule polymerization, impairing glucose uptake and depleting glycogen/ATP, leading to immobilization and death of the helminth.

Duration of Effect

Clinical effect is achieved with a single dose (pinworm) or a 3-day course (other intestinal nematodes); for pinworm, reinfection is common so a repeat dose at ~2 weeks is recommended rather than relying on prolonged drug effect.

Bioavailability

Low oral bioavailability (~2-10%); systemic absorption increases with a high-fat meal.

Metabolism

Extensive hepatic metabolism to largely inactive metabolites (via oxidative and hydrolytic pathways).

Excretion

Primarily fecal excretion (majority, largely unchanged); urinary excretion is minimal (typically <2%).

Product Information

Available Dosage Forms

For this SFDA-registered product: Tablet (oral use) only.

Composition per Dose

Each tablet: 100mg mebendazole

Generic Availability

Yes

OTC Alternatives

No OTC alternative

Spectrum

Broad-spectrum anthelmintic

Antibiotic Class

Benzimidazole (Anthelmintic - not an antibiotic; classified under antiparasitic agents)

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