Albendazole

Absorption

Poorly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract due to its low aqueous solubility. Oral bioavailability appears to be enhanced when coadministered with a fatty meal (estimated fat content 40 g)

Toxicity

Symptoms of overdose include elevated liver enzymes, headaches, hair loss, low levels of white blood cells (neutropenia), fever, and itching.

The Uses of Albendazole

Albendazole is a derivative of benzimidazole, is a drug with a broad antihelmintic spectrum. It exhibits an antihelmintic effect against sensitive cestodes and nematodes by blocking the process of glucose uptake by the parasites, which is expressed in the depletion of glycogen reserves and subsequent reduction in the level of adenosintriphophate. As a result, the parasite stops moving and dies. It is used upon infection of Acaris lumbricoides, Ancylostoma duodenale, Necator americanus, Enterobius vermicularis, and Trichuris trichiura. Synonyms of this drug are SKF 62979 and others.

Background

Albendazole is a benzimidazole broad-spectrum anthelmintic structurally related to mebendazole that is effective against many diseases.

Indications

For the treatment of parenchymal neurocysticercosis due to active lesions caused by larval forms of the pork tapeworm, Taenia solium and for the treatment of cystic hydatid disease of the liver, lung, and peritoneum, caused by the larval form of the dog tapeworm, Echinococcus granulosus.

Pharmacokinetics

Albendazole is a broad-spectrum anthelmintic. The principal mode of action for albendazole is by its inhibitory effect on tubulin polymerization which results in the loss of cytoplasmic microtubules.

Metabolism

Hepatic. Rapidly converted in the liver to the primary metabolite, albendazole sulfoxide, which is further metabolized to albendazole sulfone and other primary oxidative metabolites that have been identified in human urine.