Diethylcarbamazine 50 mg (Generic)

Last Updated on 06/26/2026 ✔ Medically Reviewed by Dr. Arjun Srivastav

What is Diethylcarbamazine 50 mg?

Diethylcarbamazine 50 mg (DEC 50 mg) is a type of generic medical ingredient in medicines given to treat parasitic infections. It is a type of synthetic piperazine derivative, which is effective against different types of filarial and worm infections.

A doctor recommends this composition for the treatment of specific infections, such as-

• Lymphatic filariasis, caused by Wuchereria bancrofti.
• Tropical pulmonary eosinophilia is a filarial infection affecting the respiratory tract.
• Loiasis, a type of eye infection that occurs due to Loa worms.

Manufactures

Various companies use the Diethylcarbamazine 50 mg tablet to manufacture their own brands.

Some of the notable drug manufacturers and their respective brands are given below-

• Hetrazan is made by Pfizer
• Eofil and Eofil Forte made by Forruts India
• Banocide and Banocide Forte made by Glaxo SmithKline Pharmaceuticals
• Dicarb made by Inga Laboratories

Appearance: As a pure compound, Diethylcarbamazine comes in a white powder form only.

What is the timeline of action?

• Beginning of action: The beginning of the action of the medicine occurs within an hour of taking the medicine.
• Peak action time: The drug reaches its maximum concentration in your body within 3 to 4 hours of intake.
• Complete removal and half-life: Half-life of DEC 50 mg is 6 to 12 hours. However, for complete removal, it may take up to 24 hours.

How Does Diethylcarbamazine 50 mg Work?

Causing paralysis of the worms

Diethylcarbamazine attacks the cell membrane of the larvae in the lymphatic channels. This causes hyperpolarisation of the nerves and muscles, leading to rigidity and paralysis.

Immune targeting

It also attacks the organelle membrane of the parasites, leading to structural damage of the outer sheath and protective layer. This helps the immune cells of the body, like platelets, granulocytes, and macrophages, to attack the cells and kill them, clearing the infection.

What are the major benefits of using Diethylcarbamazine 50 mg?

Reduction of symptoms: As you start taking the medicines on time, the initial change that occurs first is the reduction of symptoms, which occurs within 3 to 4 days of taking the regular course.

Faster treatment: The treatment is generally faster, with expectations of a complete remedy within 14 to 21 days of using the medicine.

Doses suitable for both adults and children: For DEC, there are suitable doses for both adults and children based on their age and bodyweight categories.

👉 By controlling the infection and relieving symptoms, it helps patients return to normal daily activities.

Detail to me the dosage of Diethylcarbamazine 50 mg

Dosage for lymphatic filariasis: The doctors, based on body weight, calculate the standard dosage guidelines for both children and adults.

• • The dosage is suitably calculated as 6 mg per kg of body weight given in three separate doses during the day.
  • Before each dose, you must take a meal. The standard duration of the course is 12 days.
  • The 50 mg dose can sometimes be given as an initial dose, which is later increased to 100 mg after the patient uses it for a few days.

Dosage for tropical pulmonary eosinophilia

For pulmonary eosinophilia, the standard dose is again similar, calculated as 6 mg per kg of body weight with a minimum dose of 50 mg given for 14 to 21 days.

Dose for Loiasis

• In case of Loiasis, the standard dosage is calculated as 8 mg per kg of body weight for 21 days.

Note: The dosage of Diethylcarbamazine 50 mg may vary depending on the infection being treated and your individual medical condition.

Missed dose

The patient must take each dose on time, as set in the daily schedule. If you miss taking your dose completely every few days, the medicine will not have consistent action to treat the infection completely.

Overdose

To avoid overdose, the patient must not try to exceed the amount of the dose given in their prescription and avoid using it for a term beyond the tenure set by the doctors. Doing any of these will cause side effects.

Diethylcarbamazine 50 mg Available Strength

Which drugs interact with Diethylcarbamazine 50 mg?

With acetazolamide

Check out any of your existing medicines, and if they contain acetazolamide, mainly given for issues like glaucoma or altitude sickness. It can increase the chances of kidney stones, which affects the kidney’s ability to flush out the medicine on time, which can lead to drug toxicity.

Corticosteroids

As you can understand, corticosteroids are medicines which suppress the activity of immune cells, which completely counteract the effects of the DEC 50 mg tablet, since after initial paralysis, it will depend on immune cells to kill the parasitic cells.

Other antiparasitic medicines

Avoid using other antiparasitic medicines, especially combining DEC 50 mg with Ivermectin, which can increase the chances of allergic side effects. However, other medicines like Albendazole are safe.

👉 It is best to consult with a doctor if you are already using any other type of antiparasitic medicine.

Are there any precautions I need to follow with Diethylcarbamazine 50 mg?

Addictions: Use of alcohol or narcotic drugs is not safe with Diethylcarbamazine 50 mg since it can increase chances of side effects like fatigue, laziness, and headache.

Driving: In case the patient has a mild headache, feels fatigued and tired, it is safe not to drive a car or do any such kind of work where there is a risk of injury.

Use with existing health disorders: It is not safe to take this medicine if you have other health issues, like-

• Kidney infections
• Liver disorders
• Low hormonal levels
• Heart problems

When not to use the Diethylcarbamazine tablet?

1. Breastfeeding: If your baby is breastfeeding, use of this medicine is unsafe as reports show that it can pass down into your breastmilk.
2. Signs of Mazzotti reaction: People who are allergic to using Diethylcarbamazine 50 mg must avoid using a small dose.
3. In case of any severe side effects: Avoid taking the medicine if you have any major side effects like severe diarrhoea with blood, extreme tiredness, or blurred vision.

What are the guidelines for the storage of Diethylcarbamazine 50 mg?

Look for safe areas in your house beyond the reach of children. The right condition for storing the medicine is normal room temperature (typically 20°C–25°C), but out of direct sunlight contact and a place with low humidity.

Dispose of empty sachets and expired medicines safely to avoid contamination risks.

Advice: Always check the packaging for any specific storage instructions provided by the manufacturer, as recommendations may vary slightly between brands.

Where to Buy Diethylcarbamazine 50mg Legal Status in Australia?

Check out for compositions of Diethylcarbamazine 50 mg locally in your medicine store. For online buyers, visit the online pharmacy website Australiarxmeds and place your order.