Anti-parasitic Drugs for the Digestive Tract

Anti-parasitic drugs for the digestive tract are medications used to treat parasitic infections in the digestive tract, most commonly worms and flukes.

1. Anti-worm Drugs:

• Mebendazole:

• Is a white-yellow powder, odorless, and poorly soluble in water.

• It is poorly absorbed, hence low toxicity.

• Mechanism: Inhibits microtubule polymerization, reducing glucose, glycogen, and ATP in worms, leading to death.

• Effects: Broad spectrum, effective on both adults and larvae. Highly effective against pinworms, roundworms (>95%). Also effective against hookworms, whipworms, and threadworms.

• Albendazole:

• Mechanism: Inhibits microtubule polymerization, reducing glucose, glycogen, and ATP in worms, leading to death.

• Effects: Broad spectrum, effective on both adults and larvae.

• Pyrantel:

• Mechanism: Blocks neuromuscular transmission.

• Effects: Effective against pinworms, roundworms, hookworms, and whipworms.

2. Anti-fluke Drugs:

• Praziquantel:

• Mechanism: Increases membrane permeability to calcium ions, causing spasm and paralysis of flukes.

• Effects: Broad spectrum, effective against fluke larvae.

• Niclosamide:

• (No information on the mechanism and effects available in the provided data).

3. Adverse Effects:

• 5-nitroimidazoles and diloxanide:

• Well tolerated.

• Mild side effects: Digestive upset, headache, dizziness, itching.

• Praziquantel:

• Well tolerated.

• Mild side effects: Digestive upset, headache, dizziness, itching. Frequency increases with dosage.

• Pyrantel pamoate:

• Mild and transient side effects.

• May experience: Digestive upset, headache, nausea, fever, allergy.

• Albendazole and Mebendazole:

• Generally safe.

• Mild side effects: Digestive upset, headache.

• High doses: Bone marrow suppression, hair loss, hepatitis, nephritis.

• Caution: Avoid alcohol.

Note:

• The above information is for informational purposes only.

• Always consult your doctor or pharmacist before using any medication.

• Do not self-medicate; dosage and treatment duration must be prescribed by a doctor.