10 best Deworming Drugs in Nigeria including dosage

Best deworming drugs in Nigeria, deworming tablets in Nigeria, how to get rid of worms in Nigeria, worm expellers in Nigeria.

Worm infestations are very common but least talked about… The symptoms associated with intestinal parasites are vomiting, anemia, seizures, weight loss, constipation, diarrhea, abdominal pains, dysentery, fatigue, joint pains, headaches, bloating and so on.

In 2016, it was reported by the World Health Organization that over 3.5 billion people around the world have an intestinal worm infestation.

The vast majority of these infections occur in developing countries where sanitation is poor as a result of poor access of portable water. However, intestinal worms are still much possible in developed nations.

There are many types of worms ranging from tapeworms, pimworms, hookworms, fluke, roundworm, Trichinella, whipworms, ascaris and many more. The details about about these worms beyond the scope of this article.. but I will discuss how to treat them – deworming.

The WHO recommends that adult and children should deworm 2 – 4 times in a year. That is, every 6 months or every 3 months in a year.

A short poll I conducted on twitter showed that Nigerians hardly deworm themselves. Many claim they don’t know it was important while others claim they knew the importance but simply forget to get rid of their intestinal worms.

And their response prompted me to write this article. Now let us talk about over the counter deworming drugs in Nigeria.

List of deworming drugs in Nigeria

1. ZENTEL (ALBENDAZOLE)

Albendazole, also known as albendazolum, is a medication used for the treatment of a variety of parasitic worm infestations. It is useful for giardiasis, trichuriasis, filariasis, neurocysticercosis (brain tapeworm), hydatid disease (liver worms), pinworm disease, and ascariasis, among others. It is taken by mouth, should not be taken in pregnancy and breastfeeding mothers.

DOSAGE: Albendazole tablets is taken as 200mg at once for both adults and children. Adults can however, take 400mg. There is zentel syrup for children.

The dosing of albendazole depends on which parasitic infection is being treated. When treating young children, tablets may be crushed or chewed and swallowed with a drink of water. Albendazole is best taken with food.

2. VERMOX (MEBENDAZOLE)

Mebendazole is a broad spectrum anti-helmithic medication used to treat a number of parasitic worm infestations. This includes ascariasis, pinworm disease, hookworm infections, guinea worm infections, hydatid disease, and giardia, among others.

It is taken by mouth. Mebendazole is usually well tolerated compared to albendazole. Pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers should not take vermox. Do not also take mebendazole with flagyl.

There is zentel syrup for children.

DOSAGE: The dose are based on the infecting organism being treated.

Initial dose for some hookworm, roundworm, tapeworm, and whipworm infections is 100 mg twice daily for 3 days.

Initial dosing for pinworm infection is 100 mg as a single dose. The dose may be repeated in 2 to 3 weeks if needed.

3. PYRANTEL (COMBANTRIN OR PYRANTRIN)

Pyrantel is a medication used to treat a number of parasitic worm infections. This includes ascariasis, hookworm infections, enterobiasis, tapeworms, trichostrongyliasis, pinworms and trichinellosis. It is taken by mouth. This medicine is not recommended for use in pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers unless necessary.

DOSAGE: Single dose of 400mg taken orally. There is also oral suspension.

4. PRAZIQUANTEL (BILTRICIDE)

Trade name is biltricide. Praziquantel is a prescription drug used as anti-worm medication. It prevents newly hatched insect larvae (worms) from growing or multiplying in your body.

Praziquantel is used to treat infections caused by Schistosoma worms, which enter the body through skin that has come into contact with contaminated water. Schistosoma worms are found in Africa, South America, Middle Eastern countries, the Caribbean, and parts of Asia.

DOSAGE: Adults and children older than 4 years… 600mg 3 times daily for 24 hours. Discuss this with your doctor.

5. LEVAMISOLE

Levamisole, sold under the trade name Ergamisol among others, is a medication used to treat parasitic worm infections. Specifically it is used for ascariasis and hookworm infections. It is also used to treat some form of colon cancer and helpful in nephrotic syndrome. It is taken by mouth. Side effects may include abdominal pain, vomiting, headache, and dizziness.

DOSAGE: adults should take 300mg for 1 -2 days while children should take 150mg as a single dose.

CAVEAT: This article is not a substitute to seeing a doctor.

The end

Sources:

Wikipedia

Medicinenet

RxList