Albendazole

Albendazole

Clinical data
Trade names	Albenza, Eskazole, others
AHFS/Drugs.com	Monograph
MedlinePlus	a610019
Pregnancy category	AU: D US: C (Risk not ruled out)
Routes of administration	By mouth
ATC code	P02CA03 (WHO) QP52AC11 (WHO)
Legal status
Legal status	AU: S4 (Prescription only) CA: ℞-only UK: POM (Prescription only) US: ℞-only
Pharmacokinetic data
Bioavailability	<5%
Protein binding	70%
Metabolism	Hepatic
Biological half-life	8-12 hours
Excretion	Urine, faeces
Identifiers
IUPAC name Methyl [5-(propylthio)-1H-benzoimidazol-2-yl]carbamate
CAS Number	54965-21-8 Y
PubChem CID	2082
DrugBank	DB00518 Y
ChemSpider	1998 Y
UNII	F4216019LN
KEGG	D00134 Y
ChEBI	CHEBI:16664 Y
ChEMBL	CHEMBL1483 Y
NIAID ChemDB	007895
ECHA InfoCard	100.053.995
Chemical and physical data
Formula	C12H15N3O2S
Molar mass	265.333 g/mol
3D model (Jmol)	Interactive image
Melting point	208 to 210 °C (406 to 410 °F)
SMILES O=C(OC)Nc2nc1ccc(SCCC)cc1n2
InChI InChI=1S/C12H15N3O2S/c1-3-6-18-8-4-5-9-10(7-8)14-11(13-9)15-12(16)17-2/h4-5,7H,3,6H2,1-2H3,(H2,13,14,15,16) Y Key:HXHWSAZORRCQMX-UHFFFAOYSA-N Y

Albendazole, marketed as Albenza among others, is a medication used for the treatment of a variety of parasitic worm infestations. It is useful for giardiasis, trichuriasis, filariasis, neurocysticercosis, hydatid disease, pinworm disease, and ascariasis, among others. It is taken by mouth.

Common side effects include nausea, abdominal pains, and headaches. Potentially serious side effects include bone marrow suppression which usually improves on stopping the medication. Liver inflammation has been reported and those with prior liver problems are at greater risk. It is pregnancy category C in the United States and category D in Australia, meaning it may cause harm if taken by pregnant women. Albendazole is a broad-spectrum antihelminthic agent of the benzimidazole type.

Albendazole developed in 1975. It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines, the most effective and safe medicines needed in a health system. The wholesale cost in the developing world is between 0.01 and 0.06 USD per dose. In the United States, however, it is very expensive as of 2015 at about 201 USD per dose.

It is effective first-line of treatment against:

In Africa, albendazole is being used to treat lymphatic filariasis as part of efforts to stop transmission of the disease. In sub-Saharan Africa, albendazole is used in conjunction with ivermectin, and elsewhere in the world, the medicine is used in combination with diethylcarbamazine.