Drug knowledge popularization:Efficacy and function of ALBENDAZOLE TABLETS

[Pharmacological action]

Pharmacodynamics Albendazole is a benzimidazole with broad-spectrum anthelmintic effect. Nematodes are sensitive to it, and it also has a strong effect on tapeworms and trematodes (but requires a larger dose), but it is ineffective against schistosomiasis. The mechanism of action is mainly to play a role in combination with nematode tubulin. After albendazole binds to tubulin, it prevents it from multimerizing with a-tubulin and assembling into microtubules. Microtubules are the basic structural units of many organelles and are necessary for cell reproduction processes such as mitosis, protein assembly, and energy metabolism. Albendazole has significantly higher affinity to nematode tubulin than mammalian tubulin, so it has little toxicity to mammals. This product not only has a strong effect on adults, but also has a strong effect on immature insects and larvae, and has the effect of killing insect eggs.

Beef-Cattle-Icon

Pharmacokinetics Albendazole is a benzimidazole drug with good absorption when taken orally. Cattle can absorb 50% of the administered dose from the gastrointestinal tract. Within 9 days, 47% of the drug metabolites of the oral dose can be recovered from the urine. After oral administration to sheep, because it is quickly metabolized into albendazole sulfoxide (the main active metabolite of anthelmintic effect), the original drug cannot be detected or can only be detected for a short time in the blood. The metabolites albendazole sulfoxide and albendazole sulfone reached peak plasma drug concentrations 20 hours after dosing. The elimination half-lives of sulfoxide metabolites in cattle, sheep, pigs, rabbits and chickens are 20.5, 7.7~9.0, 5.9, 4.1 and 4.3 hours respectively, and the elimination half-lives of sulfone metabolites 11. 6, 11.8, 9.2, 9. 6 and 2. 5 hours respectively. In addition to sulfoxide and sulfone, there are hydroxylation, hydrolysis and conjugation products, which are excreted through bile.

[Drug Interactions]

The combination of albendazole and praziquantel can increase the blood concentration of the former.

【Function and Use】

Anti-helminth drug. For livestock and poultry nematodes, tapeworms and trematodes.


Post time: Feb-08-2023