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Generic Albenza - Editorial Review

Role of Antihelminthic Drugs Like Generic Albenza

Antihelminthic are drugs that are capable of either killing or expelling the infesting helminthes. The former is referred to as vermicide and the latter as vermifuge. Helminthiasis is a world wide problem which is more prevalent in the developing and underdeveloped countries. It can be attributed to the poor hygiene and wide spread poverty coupled with overcrowding. People lack even the basic hygiene that needs to be followed. Say for example in the rural areas of the developing and underdeveloped countries, the people wash, bathe, drink and do all their basic activities in the same pond or lake. The risk of helminthic infections is much higher due to malnutrition and other infectious diseases.

It is essential to note that multiple infestations in the same individual are quite frequent. In human beings, gastrointestinal system is the abode of many helminthes though they stay in body tissues too. They harm the host by depriving him of food, causing blood loss, injury to organs, intestinal or lymphatic obstruction and by secreting toxins. Helminthiasis is rarely fatal, but is the major cause of ill health.

There are a number of drugs in this class. It includes Albendazole (Generic Albenza), mebendazole, thiabendazole, pyrantel pamoate, piperazine, levamisole, tetramisole, DEC or diethyl carbamazine citrate, ivermectin, niclosamide, and praziquantel. All of them have more or less the same mechanism of action. Many of them have immobilizing and paralyzing action or interfere with oxidative phosphorylation mechanism thereby killing and expelling the organisms.

The classification for the antihelminthic drugs goes by the parasite that needs to be combated. The parasites includes round worm, hook worm, thread worm, whip worm, filarial, guinea worm, tape worm and hydatid disease. Each of these parasites has two main drugs- the first line drugs and the alternative ones. The dosage and duration of administration of these drugs varies with the parasite and weight/age of the person.

Usually these antihelminthics are well tolerated with few mild gastrointestinal symptoms. It includes mild abdominal discomfort, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea. There are also instances where the use of mebendazole has brought out the expulsion of ascaris from mouth or nose. Very high doses may produce allergic reactions, loss of hair, granulocytopenia, etc.

The mode of administering the drug varies for different infestations. Say for example, Albendazole must be given on empty stomach for intestinal worms whereas for cysticercosis, hydatid and cutaneous larva migrans, it should be given with a fatty meal.

The two major issues relating to the use of antihelminthics are; under dosage and over dosage. Some of the parasites which when left inadequately expelled may multiply inside the body and produce irritative effects, mechanical effects and nutritional effects. Increased worm load in the gastrointestinal tract would decrease the appetite of the person, interfere with its absorption, and decreases the nutrition leading to malnutrition. Malnutrition in turn decreases the immunity and increases the risk of intestinal parasites and other infections. It is a vicious circle. Parasitic infections are one of the major causes for occult anemia.