Praziquantel was approved for medical use in the United States in 1982. It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines.
Praziquantel (PZQ) is a medication used to treat a number of types of parasitic worm infections in mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles, and fish.In humans specifically, it is used to treat schistosomiasis, clonorchiasis, opisthorchiasis, tapeworm infections, cysticercosis, echinococcosis, paragonimiasis, fasciolopsiasis, and fasciolosis. It should not be used for worm infections of the eye. It is taken by mouth.
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Generic name: praziquantel CAS No.: 55268-74-1 Molecular Formula: C19H24N2O2 Molecular weight: 312.41 Drug class: Anthelmintics Chemical name: 2-Cyclohexylcarbonyl-1,2,3,6,7,11b-hexahydro-4H-pyrazino[2,1-a]isoquinolin-4-one Physical and chemical properties: It is white or off-white crystalline powder, bitter in taste, soluble in chloroform, dissolved in ethanol, insoluble in water. Execution standard: USP/EP/CVP Expiration date: Four years. Storage: Shaded and sealed. |
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Pros |
Cons |
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• Works well to treat most types of blood flukes in humans • The only FDA-approved medication for treating liver flukes in humans • Tablets can be crushed and mixed with food or liquid, so it's a good option for people who can't swallow tablets • Available as a lower-cost generic medication |
• Tablets taste bitter and can cause you to gag or vomit • Risk of more side effects for people with liver problems • Interacts with grapefruit juice and some common medications, such as diltiazem (Cardizem), verapamil, and carbamazepine (Tegretol) |
Praziquantel is an antiparasitic medication. It treats infections caused by flukes that infect human blood, liver, or bile duct. The exact way that praziquantel works isn't known at this time. But it’s thought to kill the flukes by causing severe spasms in their muscle and paralyzing them.
Praziquantel works by causing severe spasms and paralysis of the worms' muscles. This paralysis is accompanied - and probably caused - by a rapid Ca 2+ influx inside the schistosome. Morphological alterations are another early effect of praziquantel. These morphological alterations are accompanied by an increased exposure of schistosome antigens at the parasite surface. The worms are then either completely destroyed in the intestine or passed in the stool. An interesting quirk of praziquantel is that it is relatively ineffective against juvenile schistosomes. While initially effective, effectiveness against schistosomes decreases until it reaches a minimum at 3-4 weeks. Effectiveness then increases again until it is once again fully effective at 6-7 weeks. Glutathione S-transferase (GST), an essential detoxification enzyme in parasitic helminths, is a major vaccine target and a drug target against schistosomiasis. Schistosome calcium ion channels are currently the only known target of 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.
• Take a dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, wait until then and take a regular dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up for a missed dose.
• Oral routeAsk your pharmacist, doctor, or health caregiver about the best way to dispose of any outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.
• Keep all medicine out of the reach of children. Never share your medicine with anyone.
This medicine is not right for everyone. Do not use it if you had an allergic reaction to praziquantel, or if you have a tapeworm infection in your eye (ocular cysticercosis).
• Call your doctor if your symptoms do not improve or if they get worse.
• Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you have kidney disease, liver disease, heart rhythm problems, or a history of epilepsy or seizures.
• This medicine kills the worms and could cause unwanted effects (including serum sickness) as your body heals, especially during the early stages of schistosomiasis.
• Tell your doctor if you have brain or nerve problems caused by worm cysts in the brain. Your doctor may want you to be treated in a hospital.
• This medicine can cause heart rhythm problems.
• This medicine may make you dizzy or drowsy. Do not drive or do anything else that could be dangerous during treatment with this medicine and for 24 hours after the last dose.
• Your doctor will check your progress and the effects of this medicine at regular visits. Keep all appointments.
• Keep all medicine out of the reach of children. Never share your medicine with anyone.
Avoid driving or hazardous activity on the day you take praziquantel, and also the day after. Your reactions could be impaired.
Grapefruit may interact with praziquantel and lead to unwanted side effects. Avoid the use of grapefruit products.
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.
Serious Side Effects |
Common Side Effects |
Other Side Effects |
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• Stevens-Johnson syndrome: skin pain, rash, large blisters, fever, sore throat, fatigue, facial swelling, swollen lips • Irregular heart rhythm problems: heart flutter, slow or fast heartbeat, lightheadedness, dizziness, shortness of breath • Seizures • Brain or nervous system problems: severe headaches, confusion, lack of attention to people and surroundings, fainting |
• Feeling tired or weak • Headache • Dizziness • Belly discomfort • Nausea • Itchy, red swelling on the skin • Drowsiness • Fever |
• Difficulty keeping your balance • Ringing in one or both of your ears • Changes in vision • Bloody diarrhea • Vomiting • Loss of appetite • Muscle pain or weakness • Tremor • Shortness of breath or wheezing • Itching |
| Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following. | ||
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