Mebendazole is typically employed to treat ailments of the digestive system, such as threadworms (also known as pinworms) and other rarer worm infections (whipworm, roundworm, and hookworm). The drug works by disrupting the worms’ ability to consume sugar (glucose), which leads to their death. This medication is available over the counter at a pharmacy for people aged 2 and up, and can be prescribed by a doctor for children aged 6 months and older. It is obtainable in the form of chewable tablets or a liquid that is to be swallowed.
Mebendazole is typically prescribed as a single dose for treating threadworms, but for other types of worm infections, it can take up to three days. The medication begins to work right away, but it may take a few days to eliminate all the worms. Unfortunately, mebendazole does not destroy the eggs, so a second dose may be needed in two weeks. In addition, it’s important to practice good hygiene to prevent the worms from recurring. The most common side effect is stomach discomfort. A doctor or pharmacist may also recommend that everyone in the household take mebendazole.
Anyone over the age of 2 years and anyone between the ages of 6 months and 2 years who has been prescribed mebendazole by a doctor may take it. However, some people may not be able to take mebendazole safely. Before taking it, it is important to inform a pharmacist or doctor if you have any of the following:
Have you ever experienced an allergic response to mebendazole or any other medication, or are you currently pregnant or nursing?
When and how to administer mebendazole
Mebendazole is available as a liquid with a banana taste as well as orange tablets. Make sure to abide by the directions that come with your prescription.
Your physician or pharmacist will inform you of how much mebendazole you should take, depending on the kind of worms you have.
If you have threadworms (also named pinworms), you generally take a single dose. All other people living with you should be treated at the same time since threadworms can be easily transmitted.
Your doctor or pharmacist may suggest that you take the same dose again after two weeks in order to prevent you from getting threadworms again. This is due to the fact that the medicine can eliminate the worms but not their eggs.
For other worms such as whipworm, roundworm, and hookworm, follow the instructions of your doctor regarding how to take mebendazole. You commonly need to take a dose twice a day for three days.
You can either chew the tablet or swallow it whole with a glass of water, juice, or milk. It does not matter if you take it with food or not. If you’re taking the liquid form, it comes with a plastic spoon to measure the dose. Make sure to ask your pharmacist for a spoon if you don’t have one; do not use a kitchen teaspoon as it will not give you the correct amount.
If you forget to take your mebendazole twice a day, take it as soon as you recall if it is within four hours of the prescribed time. However, if you remember more than four hours after the dose was due, do not take the missed dose and just take the next dose at the usual time.
Do not try to compensate for a forgotten dose by taking two.
If you accidentally consume more than the recommended amount of mebendazole, it is unlikely to cause any negative effects.
Yet, you could experience adverse reactions like:
Abdominal pains, nausea, vomiting, and loose stools.
The following are some of the common side effects of mebendazole, which can occur in more than one in every hundred people. To manage these, it is suggested that you rest, consume smaller meals more frequently, and apply heat to your stomach. If the pain is severe, it is suggested that you consult a doctor or pharmacist.
If you’re feeling bloated or gassy, try to eat simpler meals and avoid fatty or spicy items. Mebendazole might be useful to take after meals to reduce symptoms. It’s also important to drink plenty of fluids if you have diarrhoea, as dehydration can occur. Never take any medicine for diarrhoea without consulting a pharmacist or doctor first. If you take the contraceptive pill and have severe diarrhoea for more than a day, you may need to take extra precautions to prevent pregnancy – see the packet for more information.
If the advice on how to manage the side effects of mebendazole does not help and they are still a cause of concern, one should consult with a doctor or pharmacist. Serious side effects should be taken seriously and one should immediately stop taking mebendazole and contact a doctor or dial 111 if the whites of the eyes turn yellow or the skin turns yellow, although this may be more difficult to detect on darker skin tones. These could be signs of liver problems.
It is uncommon, but it is possible to have a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to mebendazole. These are not all the potential side effects of mebendazole; for the full list please consult the information booklet in your medication packet.
Mebendazole can be taken during pregnancy if needed, though threadworms are not particularly hazardous to either you or your unborn baby. It is advisable to attempt to combat worms without medication, especially during the initial trimester of pregnancy when your baby is becoming established.
It is essential to maintain good hygiene by washing your hands, scrubbing under your fingernails, showering every morning, rinsing your toothbrush, cutting your nails short, washing your sleepwear, sheets, and towels frequently, disinfecting your kitchen and bathroom surfaces, and vacuuming and dusting with a damp cloth on a regular basis. This should help to eliminate worms within 6 weeks. If these techniques do not help or you are unable to do them, then you should consult your doctor or pharmacist about taking mebendazole.
Consult a physician regarding the most effective treatment if you have a different type of worm infestation, such as roundworm or hookworm.
It is alright to take mebendazole while nursing if your doctor or health visitor confirms that your infant is healthy. Very little of the medication will be present in the breast milk, so it is unlikely that the baby will consume enough of it to cause any side effects.
If you observe any irregularities with your infant’s feeding habits or have any other worries about your baby, it is important to contact your health visitor, midwife, or physician right away. There is no proof that taking mebendazole has any impact on male or female fertility. Additionally, it is important to be mindful of the potential interactions that mebendazole may have with other medications and herbal supplements.
Be sure to speak with a pharmacist or doctor if you are taking any medications in addition to mebendazole, as they could have an effect on each other.
Metronidazole is usually prescribed to treat bacterial or protozoan infections, while cimetidine is generally used to lessen the amount of stomach acid. With regards to mebendazole, there is not enough known to say whether taking complementary medicines, herbal remedies, or supplements along with it is safe. These products are not tested in the same way as pharmaceutical and prescription drugs, and do not have studies to show how they interact with other medications. Visit for more information: https://www.fenbendazole.org/