Albendazole STELLA 200 mg

Indications:

• Pork tapeworm (Taenia solium) in the neurocysticercosis (in or out parenchymal neurocysticercosis).
• For the treatment of cystic hydatid disease of the liver, lung and peritoneum caused by the larval form of the dog tapeworm (Echinococcus granulosus) before operable or inoperable.
• Single or mixed infections caused by intestinal parasites, such as Ascaris lumbricoides, Ancylostoma duodenale and Necator americanus, Trichuris trichiura, Strongyloides stercoralis, Enterobius vermicularis and Mansonella perstants, Wuchereria bancrofti, Loa loa.
• Cutaneous larva migrant or visceral larva migrans caused by Toxocara canis or cati.
• Giardiasis caused by Giardia
• Trematode infections caused by Clonorchis sinensis.

Dosage:

• Pork tapeworm: Weighing ³ 60 kg: 400 mg given twice daily with meals for 8 – 30 days. Weighing < 60 kg: 15 mg/kg daily (£ 800 mg daily), administered as 2 equally divided doses with meals, for 8 – 30 days. Courses of therapy may be repeated as necessary. Children < 6 years: Not doses.
• Dog tapeworm: Dose ditto, in three 28 days courses of therapy, separated by two 14 days albendazole free intervals.
• Ascaris lumbricoides, Ancylostoma duodenale, Trichuris trichiura or Enterobius vermicularis: A single dose of 400 mg (Children £ 2 years: 200 mg). A further dose may be required after 3 weeks.
• Strongyloidiasis: 400 mg (Children £ 2 years: 200 mg) daily in a single dose for 3 days. Doses may be repeated after 3 weeks.
• Capillariasis: 200 mg given twice daily for 10 days.
• Cutaneous larva migrans: 400 mg daily in a single dose by mouth for 3 days. Treatment for 5 – 7 days may be more effective. Children: 5 mg/kg daily in a single dose by mouth for 3 days.
• Giardia: 400 mg daily in a single dose by mouth for 5 days.
• Clonorchis sinensis: 10 mg/kg daily in a single dose by mouth for 7 days.
• Lymphatic filariasis, potential filariasis infection: A single dose of albendazole 400 mg and diethylcarbamazine 6 mg/kg or ivermectin (200 mg/kg) effective in preventing disease transmission. These doses are given once each year for at least 5 years.
• Visceral larva migrans: 400 mg given twice daily for 5 days.

Usage:

The tablets may be chewed and drunk or crushed and mixed with food.

• Patients with a history of hypersensitivity to the compounds of benzimidazole class or any components of the drug.
• Pregnant women.

Common: Fever. Headache, vertigo, meningeal signs, raised intracranial pressure. Abnormal functions. Abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting. Alopecia (reversible).

• Ophthalmic exams should be performed before initiating therapy for pork tapeworm in the parenchymal neurocysticercosis to rule out intraocular cysts.
• Caution when using albendazole for hepatic dysfunction patients, nursing women.
• For women of childbearing age, albendazole should be used within the first 7 days of the menstrual cycle. Use contraception during and after stopping the drug 1 month.
• Patients with rare hereditary problems of galactose intolerance, total lactase deficiency or glucose-galactose malabsorption should not take this medicine.