J-BEND ( TABLET )

• Echinococcus multilocularis and E. granulosus infections prior to or not amenable to surgery
• Neurocysticercosis
• Nematode infections
• Filariasis
• Ascariasis, hookworm infections, strongyloidiasis, enterobiasis, trichuriasis, trichostrongyliasis and capillariasis
• Cestode infections
• Tissue nematode infections.

Source : IAP Pediatric Drug Formulary
Whipworm, trichuriasis, pinworm, threadworm, hookworm, roundworm, ascariasis: < 2  years 200mg, >2 years 400mg. Single dose. May be repeated after 2-3 weeks for pinworm, threadworm. Ankylostomiasis - 400 mg single dose. Strongyloidosis (Strongyloides stercoralis): 2-12 years 400mg daily once for 3 days. May repeat after 3 weeks if necessary. 400 mg twice daily for 3 days, repeated after 3 weeks. More effective than mebendazole. Enterobiasis - 100-200 mg single dose, repeated after 4 weeks Trichinosis: 2-12 years 400mg daily once for 5 days. Repeat if necessary. Tapeworm: 400mg daily once for 3 days Neurocysticercosis: In neurocysterosis - albendazole is used in dose of 15 mg/Kg for 3-4 weeks. A short course of 8 days is also found to he effective depending upon location of cyst. 7.5mg/kg upto maximum of 400mg twice daily for 14-28 days. Take with food. Repeat if necessary. Under steroid and anticonvulsant and in readiness for shunting for raised intracranial pressure. Hydatid disease, echinococcosis: 15mg/Kg daily for 4 weeks. In hydatid disease, a large dose of mebendazole is required (400-600 mg 3 times a day for 21-30 days). This large dose may cause bone marrow aplasia and hence albendazole is a preferred drug nowa days for hydatid disease Repeat the dose after 14 days, if reuired for next such 3 dose. Cutaneous larva migrans: <2 years 10mg/kg twice daily for 5 days; 2-12 years 400mg daily once for 5 days. Toxocariasis: 2-12 years 10mg/kg upto maximum for 400mg; 12-18 years 400mg - twice daily for 5 days. Steroid cover in symptomatic cases; especially if there is ocular involvement. Albendazole 400 mg bid for 5 days is also used for all the ages. Therapy may be adjuncted with cortcosteroid if inflammatroy symptoms with ocular involvement. Filariasis: It has adjuvant value to DEC or ivermectin in lymphatic filariasis. A single dose in combination has been used in mass programmes.

Source : NFI National Formulary of India

• Oral Adult and child above 2 years- 400 mg dailyas a single dose.Strongyloidiasis, taeniasis and H. nanainfection: 400 mg once daily is given for 3consecutive days. Hydatid disease: 400 mgtwice daily with meals for 28 days (therapymay be repeated after 14 days in threecycles).
• Child- 1 to 2 years: 200 mg as a single dose.

• Pregnancy, adequate measures must be taken for non-hormonal contraceptive during and one month after therapy
• Hypersensitivity.
• Pregnancy or women of childbearing age not protected by non-ormonal contraception for duration of treatment and 1 month post-cessation. Can elevae liver enzymes and cause hematological changes. Baseline LFTs and blood counts recommended; repeat at least twice during treatment cycle.

• Pregnancy
• Liver impairment, increased intracranial pressure
• Seizures
• Monitor blood count and liver function

• Gastrointestinal discomfort
• Headache
• Adverse effects associated with use in cestode infections
• Reversible alopecia
• Leucopenia, neurocystecercosis
• Steven’s Johnson syndrome
• Gastrointestinal upset, headache, dizziness, alopecia, hematological (leucopenia/pancytopenia) and elevation of liver enzymes (in up to 15% of cases).

Store protected from light

A broad spectrum anthelmintic with better bio availability than mebendazole. Poorly absorbed GI tract; rapidly undergoes exensive first-pass metabolism. The principal metabolite, albendazole sulphoxide has anthelmintic activity and plasma half-life of about 8.5 hours. This active metabolite is widely distributed in body, can enter brain and hence can exert its effecgt at tissue level. This and other metabolites appear to be primarily eliminated inbile. Single dose effective against most of the worms. Well tolerated and very mild adverse reactions.

Oral: absorption increased when administered with fatty foods. For systemic infections, take with food. For intestinal parasites, take before food. Chewable tables may be crushed, chewed or swallowed whole.

Shown to be teratogenic in some animal species. Contra-indicated in pregnancy or women of childbearing age not protected by non-hormonal contraception.

Induce cytochrome P450 system of liver, therefore theoretical risk of interaction with theophylline, anticoagulants, anticonvulsants, oral contraceptives (use non-hormonal contraception) and oral hypoglycemics. Plasma concentrations of albendazole reported to be raised by concurrent administration of dexamethasone, praziquantel and cimetidine.

Overdosage not reported. No specific antidote; treatment is symptomatic and supportive as required.