Pyrantel

General information

Pyrantel is an antihelminthic drug that is effective against intestinal nematodes, including roundworms ( Ascaris lumbricoides ), threadworms ( Enterobius vermicularis ), Trichostrongylus species, and the tissue nematode Trichinella spiralis . Although it is effective against hookworms, it is less effective against Necator americanus than against Ancylostoma duodenale .

Pyrantel is usually given as the embonate or pamoate in a single dose of 10 mg/kg, and adverse reactions rarely impede treatment. They include gastrointestinal disturbance (nausea, anorexia, abdominal pain, diarrhea), headache, and vomiting, which are usually mild but can occur in up to 20% of patients.

Organs and systems