Albenza is a trade name for Albendazole which is an antihelmintic drug that works by killing sensitive parasites; its main use is for treatment of tapeworm (neurocysticercosis). It is taken by mouth in tablet form with meals and the tablet can be crushed if needed and taken with water one or two times per day or as prescribed by your doctor.
Dosage level is determined by factors such as your weight, your medical condition and your response to the treatment, whatever the dose is determined by your doctor it must be strictly adhered to. Some conditions may require that you stop taking the medication for a period of maybe two weeks or so, in this case it would be prudent to keep a record of taking the medication in a diary or on a calendar.
The full prescription quantity must be taken as prescribed, symptoms could well disappear after a few days, but, if you stop taking Albenza too early, the infection could well return. Albenza usage may well cause dizziness, extreme care is required therefore with consumption of alcohol which is not barred completely. Do not drive or pursue any unsafe activity until you know your level of reaction to Albenza.
Getting pregnant while using Albenza is a definite ‘no’ and still a ‘no’ for one month after stopping with its use, birth control is vital if you are a sexually active woman. In rare cases, Albenza may lower the body’s ability to fight off infection; it is prudent therefore to avoid contact with people groups that could harbour infectious diseases, colds and flu.
Storing of Albenza is quite straight forward; it needs to be kept at room temperature (68 to 77 degrees Fahrenheit or 20 to 25 degrees Celsius) in a tightly closed container. Store away from heat, moisture and direct light, probably the bathroom is not a good choice from the moisture point of view. It is to be kept well away from children and pets.
Laboratory tests may well be performed on patients using Albenza, these tests are to monitor your condition and look for any side effects. Common minor side effects are headache, nausea, stomach pain and vomiting. It is recommended that you talk with your doctor if these are experienced to a point where they are quite bothersome or become persistent.
Not so common (rare even) side effects are listed as:
- Severe allergic reaction (rash, hives, itching, difficulty in breathing, lightness in the chest, swelling of the mouth, face, lips or tongue)
- Dark urine, decreased urination
- Fever.
- Chills.
- Sore throat.
- Red, swollen peeling or blistered skin.
- Seizures.
- Severe dizziness.
- Unusual tiredness or weakness.
- Vision changes.
There are many medicines that can interact with Albenza. Before embarking on taking Albenza, a list of all medicines being used, prescribed and over the counter, should be shown to your Doctor. This list should also include food supplements, vitamins, minerals and herbal products. Also your Doctor would need to be informed if you have a history of heart disease or heart attack, stroke or seizures.
There is a lot of advice on the web about missing a dose of Albenza, clearly there is an issue if you took, for example, a double dose to make up for a missed dose. The advice prefers that a missed dose be skipped rather than be made up for, similarly, they advise returning to the doctor if you miss more than one dose. Additional advice is that Albenza should not be administered to a child less than one year old as the safety and effectiveness of Albenza in this age group is not confirmed.