Albenza vs. Biltricide

• Are Albenza and Biltricide the Same Thing?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Albenza?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Biltricide?
• What Is Albenza?
• What Is Biltricide?
• What Drugs Interact with Albenza?
• What Drugs Interact with Biltricide?
• How Should Albenza Be Taken?
• How Should Biltricide Be Taken?

Albenza (albendazole) and Biltricide (praziquantel) are anthelmintics (anti-worm medications) used to treat certain infections caused by different types of worms.

Albenza is used to treat infections caused by worms such as pork tapeworm and dog tapeworm.

Biltricide is used to treat infections caused by Schistosoma worms, which enter the body through skin that has come into contact with contaminated water. Schistosoma worms are found in Africa,

South America, Middle Eastern countries, the Caribbean, and parts of Asia. Biltricide is also used to treat infection with liver flukes, caused by a type of worm found in East Asia.

Common side effects of Albenza include:

• nausea,
• vomiting,
• stomach and abdominal pain,
• headache,
• dizziness, or
• temporary hair loss.

Tell your doctor if you have serious side effects of Albenza including:

• vision changes,
• yellowing eyes or skin,
• severe stomach or abdominal pain,
• dark urine,
• unusual tiredness,
• easy bruising or bleeding,
• signs of infection (e.g., fever, persistent sore throat),
• changes in the amount of urine,
• severe or persistent headache,
• seizures,
• confusion, or
• very stiff neck.

Common side effects of Biltricide include:

• headache,
• dizziness,
• stomach pain or upset,
• nausea,
• tiredness,
• weakness,
• joint or muscle pain,
• loss of appetite,
• vomiting,
• fever,
• skin rash, and
• sweating.

Side effects of Biltricide are usually mild and temporary and may be symptoms of the parasite infection and/or the dying parasites.

Albenza (albendazole) is a broad spectrum anthelmintic, or anti-worm medication used to treat certain infections caused by worms such as pork tapeworm and dog tapeworm.

Biltricide (praziquantel) is an anthelmintic, or anti-worm, medication used to treat infections caused by Schistosoma worms, which enter the body through skin that has come into contact with contaminated water. Schistosoma worms are found in Africa, South America, Middle Eastern countries, the Carribean, and parts of Asia. Biltricide is also used to treat infection with liver flukes, caused by a type of worm found in East Asia.

Albenza may interact with other medications including antibiotics, cimetidine, dexamethasone, praziquantel, or theophylline. Tell your doctor all medications you are taking. During pregnancy, Albenza should be used only when prescribed. It may harm a fetus.

Biltricide may interact with cimetidine, chloroquine, itraconazole or ketoconazole, dexamethasone, erythromycin, St. John's wort, rifabutin or rifapentine, barbiturates, HIV medications, medicines to treat narcolepsy, or seizure medications. Tell your doctor all medications you use.

Dosing of Albenza varies, depending upon which parasitic infection is being treated.

The recommended dosage of Biltricide for the treatment of schistosomiasis is 20 mg/kg three times a day as a one day treatment, at intervals of 4 to 6 hours. The recommended dose for clonorchiasis and opisthorchiasis is 25 mg/kg three times a day as a one day treatment, at intervals of 4 to 6 hours.