NICLOSAMIDE

Niclosamide Information

Niclosamide is a drug which belongs in the antihelmintic group of medicines – in other words, it is a medicine used to treat infections caused by worms. It acts by killing the worms on contact, and the dead worms are then eliminated from the patient's organism in the stool. Niclosamide is currently available for oral administration only.

Niclosamide Indications

Niclosamide is commonly prescribed for the treatment of patients who are suffering from infections with certain types of worms (for example fish tapeworm, broad tapeworm, beef tapeworm and dwarf tapeworm). This drug is effective only in the case of infections with certain worms, while for other type of worm infections, such as infections with roundworms or pinworms, a treatment with this medicine does not yield any beneficial results. Your personal health care professional will determine the type of worm infection you are suffering from before deciding to prescribe you a therapy course with Niclosamide. If you would like to obtain further information on the possible situations when this drug is a viable therapeutic agent, it is best to consult with a specialized health care professional or with a pharmacist.

Niclosamide Warnings

While generally safe to use in almost all categories of patients, there are cases in which the use of Niclosamide is not recommended. In other situations, for example if the patient is allergic to Niclosamide or to any of the ingredients of this medicine (listed on the product information label), the use of this drug should be completely avoided. It is best to ensure that the prescribing health care professional is fully aware of your entire medical history and of your general health condition before prescribing a treatment course with this drug.

At this time, it is not known if Niclosamide may harm an unborn baby or a nursing infant. As such, it is best to inform your personal health care professional if you are pregnant or breast feeding, or if you plan to become pregnant in the near future before starting a therapy course with this drug.

Niclosamide Intake Guidelines

Patients taking Niclosamide for the treatment of infections with beef tapeworms, fish tapeworm or broad tapeworm will need to closely follow the advice of their personal health care professional regarding the administration of the medicine. Typically, one dose is sufficient to clear out the infection, however in other cases two or more doses may be needed. In the case of infections with dwarf tapeworms, the medicine needs to be taken for several days. Even if the patient presents an alleviation of the symptoms sooner, he or she must continue taking the Niclosamide doses for the full duration of the treatment. Ending the treatment too soon may result in a relapse of the infection.

In order to properly administer the Niclosamide doses, ensure that you chew or crush the tablets thoroughly before taking them with a glass of water. In order to reduce stomach upset, you may take the medicine with food, unless your personal health care professional advises otherwise.

Niclosamide Dosage

The exact Niclosamide dosage may vary from one case to another, depending on a number of factors – the most important being the type of infection being treated. As such, while the typical adult dosage for fish tapeworm or beef tapeworm infections is of 2 grams as a single dose, the dosage for children is determined by the prescriber based on body weight. For infections with dwarf tapeworms, the general adult dosage is of two grams daily taken for several days, and the treatment course may be repeated after one to two weeks if needed.

Niclosamide Overdose

An overdose with Niclosamide is a very severe medical condition. If you believe you have ingested too much of this medicine, it is strongly recommended to go to the nearest medical facility in order to obtain emergency medical attention. In order to avoid becoming affected by an overdose, always employ only the prescribed dosage, and avoid doubling any doses.

Niclosamide Missed Dose

You should always be careful not to miss any doses of your medication. If you forget to take a Niclosamide dose on time, take it as soon as you remember – however in situations when it is almost time for another intake, it is best that you completely skip the missed dose and carry on with the normal intake schedule. Never take a double dose of this medicine in an attempt to make up for a missed dose.

Niclosamide Side Effects

Niclosamide may cause a number of side effects and adverse reactions. While in most cases the patients will not experience any unwanted symptoms or if they do, these are transitory and mild (such as abdominal pain, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea), there have been cases in which more severe side effects have been reported. Such side effects as dizziness, lightheadedness, drowsiness, skin rashes, itching in the area around the rectum or the presence of unpleasant taste in the mouth should be brought to the attention of the supervising health care professional. It is also possible to experience side effects other than those listed here; in such cases, it is recommended to consult with your personal health care professional if the symptoms become bothersome or persistent.

Niclosamide Drug Reactions

Niclosamide may react differently than expected when used at the same time with certain other pharmaceutical or herbal products. As such, it is best to inform your prescriber of any other prescription or over the counter medication you are currently taking before starting a therapy course with this drug, as well as of any vitamins or supplements you are using. For a detailed list of Niclosamide drug interactions, you should consult your physician or pharmacist.