Mebendazole (Vermox) Drug Study

Generic Name:Mebendazole
Brand Name:Vermox
Classifications: antiinfective; anthelmintic
Pregnancy Category:  C

Availability  
100 mg tablets

Actions  
Carbamate with unusually broad spectrum of anthelmintic activity. Mechanism of action not known.

Therapeutic effects
Inhibits formation of worm’s microtubules and inhibits glucose and other nutrient uptake by susceptible helminths.

Uses  
Treatment of Trichuris trichiura (whipworm), Enterobius vermicularis (pinworm), Ascaris lumbricoides (roundworm), Ancylostoma duodenale (common hookworm), Necator americanus (American hookworm) in single or mixed infections.

Contraindication
Safety during pregnancy (category C), lactation, or in children <2 y is not established.

Route & Dosage 

Enterobiasis
adult:PO  100 mg as single dose
child:PO  100 mg as single dose

Other Infestations
adult:PO  100 mg b.i.d. times 3 d
child:PO  100 mg b.i.d. times 3 d

Administration
Oral

• Allow tablets to be chewed and swallowed, or crushed and mixed with food if needed.

Adverse effects
GI:Transient abdominal pain, diarrhea.
BodyWhole:Dizziness, fever (possibly due to tissue necrosis in cysts).

Nursing implications  
Assessment & Drug Effects

• Initiate second course of treatment if cure does not occur within 3 wk.
• Examine and treat all family members simultaneously because pinworms are readily transmitted from person to person.

Patient & Family Education

• Practice thorough hand washing after touching any potentially contaminated item.
• Change underclothing, bedclothes, towels, and facecloths daily; bathe frequently, preferably by showering. Infected person should sleep alone.
• Do not breast feed while taking this drug without consulting physician.