Vermox tablets and suspension contain the active ingredient mebendazole, which is a type of medicine called an anthelmintic. It is used to treat certain types of worm infections of the gut.
What is it used for?
- Threadworm (pinworm) infections.
- Roundworm infections (ascariasis).
- Hookworm infections.
- Whipworm infections (trichuriasis).
How does it work?
- Vermox tablets and suspension contain the active ingredient mebendazole, which is a type of medicine called an anthelmintic. It is used to treat certain types of worm infections of the gut.
- Mebendazole works by preventing worms from being able to absorb sugars that are essential for their survival. This depletes the energy stores of the worms, leading to their eventual death within a few days.
How do I take it?
- For the treatment of threadworms, one single Vermox tablet or one 5ml spoonful of Vermox suspension should be taken as a single dose. A second dose of tablets or suspension should be taken after two weeks if the threadworm infection comes back.
- For the treatment of roundworms, hookworms or whipworms, one Vermox tablet or one 5ml spoonful of Vermox suspension should be taken twice a day for three days.
- Vermox tablets and suspension can be taken either with or without food.
- Vermox tablets can be swallowed whole or can be chewed. For young children the tablet can be crushed.
- Vermox suspension should be shaken well before giving a dose.
Not to be used in
- Children under two years of age
- Pregnancy.
- Vermox suspension contains sucrose and is not suitable for people with rare hereditary problems of fructose intolerance, glucose-galactose malabsorption or sucrase-isomaltase insufficiency.
- This medicine should not be used if you are allergic to any of its ingredients. Please inform your doctor or pharmacist if you have previously experienced such an allergy.
If you feel you have experienced an allergic reaction, stop using this medicine and inform your doctor or pharmacist immediately.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Certain medicines should not be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding. However, other medicines may be safely used in pregnancy or breastfeeding providing the benefits to the mother outweigh the risks to the unborn baby. Always inform your doctor if you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, before using any medicine.
- The safety of this medicine for use during pregnancy has not been established. The manufacturer states that it should not be taken by women who are or think they could be pregnant. Seek further medical advice from your doctor.
- This medicine passes into breast milk, but only in small amounts that are unlikely to be harmful to a nursing infant, particularly with just one dose. However, the manufacturer recommends that breastfeeding should be avoided after taking this medicine. Seek medical advice from your doctor before taking this medicine if you are breastfeeding.
Side effects
Medicines and their possible side effects can affect individual people in different ways. The following are some of the side effects that are known to be associated with this medicine. Just because a side effect is stated here, it does not mean that all people using this medicine will experience that or any side effect.
Common (affect between 1 in 10 and 1 in 100 people)
- Stomach pain.
Uncommon (affect between 1 in 100 and 1 in 1000 people)
- Diarrhoea.
- Flatulence (wind).
- Stomach discomfort.
Rare (affect between 1 in 1000 and 1 in 10,000 people)
- Dizziness.
- Convulsions.
- Decreased level of white blood cells in the blood.
- Inflammation of the liver (hepatitis).
- Abnormal results in liver function tests.
- Rash.
- Hair loss.
- Severe allergic reactions such as shortness of breath, wheezing, swelling of face and throat, hives.
- Severe allergic blistering skin reactions affecting the tissues of the eyes, mouth, throat and genitals (Stevens-Johnson syndrome or toxic epidermal necrolysis).
The side effects listed above may not include all of the side effects reported by the medicine's manufacturer.
For more information about any other possible risks associated with this medicine, please read the information provided with the medicine or consult your doctor or pharmacist.
How can this medicine affect other medicines?
- You should tell your pharmacist if you are already taking any medicines, including those bought without a prescription and herbal medicines, before you take this medicine. Similarly, check with your pharmacist before taking any new medicines in combination with this one, to make sure that the combination is safe.
- Cimetidine may decrease the breakdown of mebendazole by the liver and so increase the amount of mebendazole in the blood.
- The manufacturer recommends that mebendazole should not be used in combination with the antibiotic metronidazole.
References:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mebendazole
https://www.drugs.com/vermox.html
http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/medicines/infections/a7729/vermox-mebendazole/
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