Praziquantel

Generic name: Praziquantel
Brand names: Biltricide
Dosage form: oral tablet (600 mg)
Drug class: Anthelmintics

Usage of Praziquantel

Praziquantel 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.

Praziquantel is also used to treat infection with liver flukes, caused by a type of worm found in East Asia. This worm enters the body while eating contaminated fish.

Praziquantel is for use in adults and children who are at least 1 year old.

Praziquantel may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Praziquantel side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Praziquantel may cause serious side effects. Call your doctor at once if you have:

fever, chills, sore throat, headache, body aches, tiredness, not feeling well;

slow or irregular heartbeats;

stomach cramps, bloating, diarrhea, constipation, nausea;

a seizure;

trouble concentrating; or

cold sweats, skin irritation.

Common side effects of praziquantel may include:

general ill feeling;

headache, dizziness;

nausea, stomach discomfort;

fever; or

rash.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Before taking Praziquantel

You should not use praziquantel if you are allergic to it, or if:

you have a parasitic infection in your eye; or

you have taken rifampin within the past 4 weeks.

Tell your doctor if you have ever had:

lumps (nodules) under your skin;

seizures or epilepsy;

liver disease; or

heart problems.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breast-feeding.

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How to use Praziquantel

Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Use the medicine exactly as directed.

Praziquantel is usually taken 3 times in one day. Take your doses 4 to 6 hours apart on that day.

Praziquantel should be taken with a meal and a full glass (8 ounces) of water.

You may need to break a praziquantel tablet in order to get the correct dose. Follow your doctor's instructions.

Do not chew the tablet or portion of a tablet. The bitter taste of the tablet could cause you to gag or vomit.

If the child taking praziquantel cannot swallow a tablet or tablet portion whole, crush the tablet and mix it with a liquid or semi-solid food. The child should swallow the mixture right away without chewing.

Call your doctor if your symptoms do not improve, or if they get worse.

Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

Warnings

You should not take praziquantel if you are allergic to praziquantel, or if you have taken rifampin in the last 4 weeks.

What other drugs will affect Praziquantel

Sometimes it is not safe to use certain medications at the same time. Some drugs can affect your blood levels of other drugs you take, which may increase side effects or make the medications less effective.

Many drugs can affect praziquantel, and some drugs should not be used at the same time. Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any medicine you start or stop using. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible interactions are listed here.

Disclaimer

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Drugslib.com is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Drugslib.com information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Drugslib.com does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Drugslib.com's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Drugslib.com's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners.

The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Drugslib.com does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Drugslib.com provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.