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Caracide: Full Drug Profile

Medically reviewed by Min Clinic Staff | Updated: January 2026

Caracide - General Information

An anthelmintic used primarily as the citrate in the treatment of filariasis, particularly infestations with Wucheria bancrofti or Loa loa.

 

Pharmacology of Caracide

Caracide is an anthelmintic drug that does not resemble other antiparasitic compounds. It is a synthetic organic compound which is highly specific for several parasites and does not contain any toxic metallic elements. Caracide continues to be the mainstay for treatment of patients with lymphatic filariasis and loiasis.

 

Additional information about Caracide

Caracide Indication: Used for the treatment of individual patients with certain filarial diseases including tropical pulmonary eosinophilia, loiasis, and lymphatic filariasis caused by infection with Wuchereria bancrofti, Brugia malayi, or Brugia timori. Mechanism Of Action: The mechanism of action of diethylcarbamazine is thought to involve sensitizing the microfilariae to phagocytosis. One study showed that diethylcarbamazine's activity against Brugia malayi microfilariae is dependent on inducible nitric-oxide synthase and the cyclooxygenase pathway. It confirmed the important role of the arachidonic acid metabolic pathway in diethylcarbamazine's mechanism of action in vivo and showes that in addition to its effects on the 5-lipoxygenase pathway, it targets the cyclooxygenase pathway and COX-1. Drug Interactions: Not Available Food Interactions: Not Available Generic Name: Diethylcarbamazine Synonyms: Diethyl carbamazine; Ethodryl; Ditrazine base; Carbamazine; Carbilazine Drug Category: Anthelmintics; Filaricides; Lipoxygenase Inhibitors Drug Type: Small Molecule; Approved Other Brand Names containing Diethylcarbamazine: Banocide; Bitirazine; Caracide; Caricide; Cypip; Hetrazan; Notezine; Spatonin; Decacide; Absorption: Readily absorbed following oral administration. Toxicity (Overdose): Oral LD50 in rat and mouse is 1400 mg/kg and 660 mg/kg, respectively. Protein Binding: Not Available Biotransformation: Partially metabolized to diethylcarbamazine N-oxide. Half Life: Approximately 8 hours. Dosage Forms of Caracide: Not Available Chemical IUPAC Name: N,N-diethyl-4-methylpiperazine-1-carboxamide Chemical Formula: C10H21N3O Diethylcarbamazine on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diethylcarbamazine Organisms Affected: Humans and other mammals; Parasitic nematodes and other roundworms