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Therapeutic action
- Anthelminthic
Indications
- Urinary (S. haematobium) and intestinal (S. mansoni, S. japonicum, S. mekongi, S. intercalatum) schistosomiasis
- Taeniasis (T. saginata, T. solium, D. latum, H. nana)
- Pulmonary (P. westermani), hepatobiliary (O. felineus, O. viverrini, C. sinensis) and intestinal (F. buski, H. heterophyes, M. yokogawai) flukes
Forms and strengths
- 600 mg breakable tablet
Dosage and duration
Child 4 years and over and adult:
Schistosomiasis
- S. haematobium, S. mansoni, S. intercalatum: 40 mg/kg single dose or 2 doses of 20 mg/kg administered 4 hours apart
- S. japonicum, S. mekongi: 2 doses of 30 mg/kg or 3 doses of 20 mg/kg administered 4 hours apart
Taeniase
- T. saginata, T. solium, D. latum: 5 to 10 mg/kg single dose
- H. nana: 15 to 25 mg/kg single dose
Fluke infections
- lung and hepatobiliary: 25 mg/kg 3 times daily for 2 days
- intestinal: 25 mg/kg 3 times daily, 1 day
Contra-indications, adverse effects, precautions
- Do not administer to patients with ocular cysticercosis.
- May cause:
- drowsiness, headache, gastrointestinal disturbances, dizziness; rarely: allergic reactions;
- neurological disorders (headache, seizures) in patients with undiagnosed neuro cysticercosis.
- Pregnancy: no contra-indication for the treatment of schistosomiasis and taeniasis. If immediate treatment not considered essential for fluke infections, it should be delayed until after delivery.
- Breast-feeding: no contra-indication
Remarks
- Do not chew the tablets due to their bitter taste. Take during meals.
- Praziquantel is not active against certain liver flukes (Fasciola hepatica and gigantica). For this indication, use triclabendazole.