An anti-worm (anthelmintic) medicine
Albendazole
An anti-worm medicine used for several types of worm infection, including some serious ones.
What is Albendazole?
Albendazole is an anti-worm (anthelmintic) medicine used to treat a wide range of worm infections, from common ones such as threadworm and hookworm to more serious conditions such as hydatid disease and certain tissue infections. It works by starving the worms of energy so they cannot survive. For simple infections it is a short course, while serious tissue infections may need longer treatment under specialist care. It is generally well tolerated, though longer courses need blood-test monitoring, and it is avoided in pregnancy.
Education and reference only. This is a plain-language guide to Albendazole — it deliberately contains no doses. Doses depend on the person, the brand and the reason for treatment, and belong with your prescriber. Always check the BNF, the product labelling (SmPC) and follow medical advice.
What it is
Albendazole is a broad anti-worm medicine that works against many different parasitic worms. It is used for common gut worms such as threadworm, roundworm, hookworm and whipworm, and also for more serious infections where worms form cysts in body tissues, such as hydatid disease and neurocysticercosis. For simple worm infections it is a short, straightforward treatment; for the serious tissue infections it is given in longer courses under specialist supervision. It is taken by mouth as a tablet, with food for the more serious infections.
How it works
Albendazole stops the worm from taking up the sugar (glucose) it needs for energy, so the worm gradually loses its energy stores and dies. Because it is absorbed better with fatty food, it is taken with a meal when treating infections inside body tissues, where good absorption matters; for worms living in the gut, absorption is less important. As the worms die, the infection clears, though for tissue infections this can take repeated or prolonged courses and is monitored closely.
Company & origin
Originated / developed by: Generic (long-established).
An anti-worm medicine used in the UK to treat a range of worm infections, from threadworm to more serious conditions such as hydatid disease.
Practical use
How to take Albendazole
General, dose-free guidance — always follow your prescriber's and the leaflet's specific instructions.
- For simple gut worms, take the short course exactly as prescribed; food is not essential for these.
- For tissue infections such as hydatid disease, take it with fatty food, which helps your body absorb it.
- For threadworm, follow advice to treat the household, repeat after a couple of weeks and keep up strict hand and bathroom hygiene.
- Complete the full course, even the longer specialist courses, exactly as directed.
- Tell your prescriber if you are or could be pregnant, as it is avoided in pregnancy and contraception is advised.
- During long courses, report sore throat, fever, unusual bruising or yellowing of the skin promptly.
Weighing it up
Advantages & disadvantages of Albendazole
Advantages
- Works against a wide range of worm infections, from common to serious.
- Usually a short, well-tolerated course for simple gut worms.
- Effective, with specialist longer courses, for serious tissue infections such as hydatid disease.
Disadvantages
- Longer courses for serious infections need regular blood-test monitoring.
- It is avoided in pregnancy, and contraception is advised around treatment.
- Reinfection is common with threadworm unless strict hygiene is followed.
Practical use
Good to know
For simple worm infections albendazole is usually a short, well-tolerated course, and for threadworm it is common to treat the whole household and repeat after a couple of weeks while keeping up strict hygiene to stop reinfection. For serious tissue infections such as hydatid disease, treatment is much longer and is supervised by specialists, with regular blood tests to watch the liver and blood counts, because longer courses can occasionally affect these. It is taken with fatty food for the tissue infections to help absorption. It is avoided in pregnancy, and effective contraception is advised around treatment; tell your team if you could be pregnant. Report sore throat, fever, unusual bruising or yellowing of the skin during long courses.
Who should not take it / use with caution
- It is avoided in pregnancy, particularly early pregnancy, unless the benefit clearly outweighs the risk.
- People with significant liver problems need extra caution and monitoring.
- Anyone who has had a serious allergic reaction to albendazole or similar medicines.
Monitoring
- Regular blood tests for liver function and blood counts during longer courses.
- Checking for pregnancy before treatment, as it is avoided in pregnancy.
- Reviewing response, and repeating treatment for threadworm or tissue infections as needed.
Side effects
- Stomach upset, nausea, tummy pain or headache, especially on longer courses.
- Temporary hair thinning and changes in liver blood tests with prolonged treatment.
- Rarely, a fall in blood counts, so sore throat, fever or unusual bruising should be reported.
Key interactions
- Some medicines, such as certain steroids and the stomach medicine cimetidine, can raise its levels.
- Anti-epileptic medicines such as carbamazepine and phenytoin can lower its levels.
- Tell your prescriber about all your medicines before a long course.
Available as: Tablets taken by mouth.
Answers
Albendazole: frequently asked questions
What worms does albendazole treat?
It treats a wide range, from common gut worms such as threadworm, roundworm, hookworm and whipworm to serious tissue infections such as hydatid disease and neurocysticercosis.
Should I take it with food?
For worms inside body tissues, taking it with fatty food helps absorption; for simple gut worms, food is less important, so follow the advice for your infection.
Why does the whole family need treating for threadworm?
Threadworm spreads easily, so treating the household, repeating after a couple of weeks and keeping up strict hygiene helps stop reinfection.
Do I need blood tests?
Short courses usually do not, but longer courses for serious infections need regular blood tests to watch the liver and blood counts.
Can I take it if I might be pregnant?
It is avoided in pregnancy, especially early on, and contraception is advised around treatment, so tell your team if you are or could be pregnant.
Authoritative sources
- BNF
- NICE CKS
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