ZENTEL is a benzimidazole carbamate with anthelmintic and antiprotozoal activity against the intestinal and tissue parasites. This medicine is one of the most widely used Albendazole worldwide. This medicine come in the form of tablet and suspension. Zentel is a trademark of the GlaxoSmithKline group of companies.
Zentel exhibits larvicidal, ovicidal and vermicidal activity, and exerts its antihelmintic effect by inhibiting tubulin polymerisation. This disrupts helminth metabolism, causing energy depletion, which immobilises and then kills the susceptible helminth.
Composition
Tablet containing 200 mg or 400 mg albendazole.
4% w/v suspension to be taken orally;4 g albendazole per 100 ml.
Uses of ZENTEL
It is used to treat following parasite worms:
Round-worm (Ascaris lumbricoides), pin-worm (Enterobius vermicularis), hook-worm (Necator americanus, Ancylostoma duodenale), whip-worm (Trichuris trichiura), thread-worm (Strongyloides stercoralis), tape-worm (Taenia spp and Hymenolepis nana only in the case of associated parasitism), Chlonorchiasis (Chlonorchis sinensis), Opisthorchiasis (Opisthorchis viverrini) and cutaneous larva migrans;Giardiasis (G.lamblia, G.duodenalis, G.intestinalis, Lamblia intestinalis) in children.
DOSAGE
|
Indications |
Age |
Dose |
Period |
|
– Round-worm – Pin-worm* – Hook-worms – Whip-worm |
adults and children over 2 years of age |
400 mg[two 200 mg tablet(s) or 10 ml 4% suspension]# |
single dose (to be taken on an empty stomach) |
|
children 1-2 years of age |
200 mg (one 200 mg tablet or 5 ml 4% suspension) |
single dose (to be taken on an empty stomach) |
|
|
– Strongyloidiasis – Taeniasis – Hymenolepiasis** |
adults and children over 2 years of age |
400 mg (#see above) |
one dose per day for 3 days (to be taken on an empty stomach) |
|
-Chlonorchiasis*** -Opisthorchiasis*** |
adults and children over 2 years of age |
400 mg (#see above) |
two doses per day for 3 days (to be taken with food) |
|
Cutaneous larva migrans |
adults and children over 2 years of age |
400 mg |
Once daily for 1 to 3 days (to be taken with food) |
|
– Giardiasis |
children 2 – 12 years of age only |
400 mg (#see above) |
one dose per day for 5 days (to be taken on an empty stomach) |
*In order to obtain a complete cure in the case of pin-worm infestation, prescribe strict measures of hygiene, also treat the relatives and individuals sharing the same housing.
**In cases of proven Hymenolepiasis, retreatment in 10-21 days is recommended.
***Patients should be re-examined 1 month after treatment to confirm fluke eradication.
Direction to use
Some people, particularly young children, may experience difficulties swallowing the tablets whole and should be encouraged to chew the tablets with a little water;alternatively the tablets may be crushed.
Suspensions: Shake well before use
Do not use in following cases
ZENTEL should not be administered during pregnancy, or in women thought to be pregnant.
ZENTEL is contraindicated in patients with a known history of hypersensitivity to the drug (albendazole or constituents).
Warnings and precautions
In order to avoid administering ZENTEL during early pregnancy, women of childbearing age should initiate treatment during the first week of menstruation or after a negative pregnancy test.
Use with caution in elderly patients with evidence of hepatic dysfunction.
Patients with renal impairment should be carefully monitored.
Patients with abnormal the liver function test results (transaminases) prior to commencing albendazole therapy should be carefully monitored.
Always take in the recommended dosages.
Do Not use in Pregnancy and lactation
Albendazole should not be administered during pregnancy or in women thought to be pregnant (see Contraindications).
It is not known whether albendazole or its metabolites are secreted in human breast milk. Thus ZENTEL should not be used during lactation unless the potential benefits are considered to outweigh the potential risks associated with treatment.
ADVERSE REACTIONS
Hypersensitivity reactions including rash, pruritis and urticaria (rare).
Headache and dizziness (uncommon).
Upper gastrointestinal symptoms (e.g. epigastric or abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting) and diarrhea (uncommon).
Elevations of hepatic enzymes (rare).
Erythema multiforme, Stevens-Johnson syndrome (very rare).