Fenbendazole Ivermectin Tablet (Wormentel Duo 156)

What Is Fenbendazole Ivermectin Tablet?

The Fenbendazole Ivermectin combination of medicines that works as a treatment to fight parasitic infections in humans. There is a combination of two strong anti-parasitic ingredients in each pill of Fenbendazole Ivermectin. This combination is the “gold standard” for several specific medical scenarios:

• Lymphatic filariasis
• Whipworm infections
• Scabies
• Head lice
• Strongyloidiasis

It works better than taking either Ivermectin or Fenerbendazole to treat parasitic infections.

Manufacturer

• Kacchela Medex Pvt. Ltd, from Nagpur India is the original brand manufacturer of Fenbendazole Ivermectin.

Composition

• Active ingredients: The two active ingredients are the two generic substances, which are Ivermectin 6 mg and Fenerbendazole 150 mg in them.
• Inactive ingredients or excipients: These are some more substances present in the medicine, but they do not have any role in the treatment of the infection. It mostly contains binders, fillers, etc.
• Appearance: The Fenbendazole Ivermectin pills appear round shaped with no film coating and appear white in colour.

Onset Of Action:

• Peak plasma concentration:
  • Ivermectin: The peak concentration reaches within 4 to 5 hours.
  • Fenerbendazole: With an empty stomach, it becomes effective faster within 2 hours, but after a heavy meal, it can take up to 5 hours for maximum concentration.
• Initial Action: The first action of the medicine is to paralyse the larvae, parasite or the worms that occur within the first 24 hours.
• Parasite Clearance: After death of the parasite and the worms, they are removed from your body with stool.

How Does Fenbendazole Ivermectin Tablet Work?

• Lymphatic Filariasis (Elephantiasis): The FDA and the TGA have recommended the combination of Fenbendazole Ivermectin as a mass drug for treating filariasis. Ivermectin works well to remove microfilariae, which are the larvae from the blood. Fenerbendazole is believed to stop the adult worms from reproducing or kill them.
• Stubborn Soil-Transmitted Helminths (STHs): Whipworm (Trichuris trichiura): Having Ivermectin and Fenerbendazole combination works much better and treats the infection in more than 95% cases.
• Threadworm (Strongyloides Stercoralis): Fenerbendazole works poorly against threadworms, but Ivermectin is highly effective to treat the condition.
• Mixed Parasitic Infections: In some cases, the patient is infected with both cellular parasites and worms having mixed infection symptoms where Fenbendazole Ivermectin combination works best.

Dosage For Fenbendazole Ivermectin Tablet

Adult dose

• Standard: The standard dose for anyone above 18 years is a single medicine of Fenbendazole Ivermectin Tablet pills taken once.
• Severe: For severe issues the doctors may recommend a higher strength with a maximum dose of 400 mg Fenerbendazole and 12 mg of Ivermectin in it.

Child dose

• Doctors recommend a dose only when the age of the child is more than 2 years. The dosage is suitably reduced as per the age, weight, and type or severity of the infection to avoid any side effects.

Benefits

1. Action against both worms and parasites: The best thing about this treatment is that it can get rid of many parasites all at once. Fenerbendazole is good at killing the worms that live in the gut like Roundworms and Hookworms. Ivermectin is better for the baby worms and the parasites that live on the outside of the body like Scabies and Lice. It is also good at getting rid of some tough worms, like Strongyloides.
2. Faster Relief: With different modes of action like Ivermectin causing paralysis and Fenerbendazole, causing glucose starvation patients can easily get rid of the infection faster.
3. Cost efficient treatment: Using a single medicine with a combined dose of Fenbendazole Ivermectin is much cheaper than using two different medicines.
4. Treatment for both internal and external infections: The medicine works well to treat external infections affecting the skin, head and infections affecting the internal organs like stomach and intestines.

Drug interactions

• Other Dewormers: It is recommended not to use Ivermectin along with other dewormers such as Albendazole, as well as another dose of Ivermectin, which can lead to toxicity.
• Blood thinners (such as Warfarin): Using Ivermectin with blood thinners may result in increased effect and cause bleeding problems.
• Central Nervous System (CNS) Depressants: Taking this medication along with sedatives, sleep aids, or alcohol can result in drowsiness or even cause some neurological reactions such as dizziness.
• Medications that Act on the Liver: Some antibiotics, fungicides, or anticonvulsants could alter the way the liver metabolizes these medications, causing a number of problems.
• With anticonvulsants like Carbamazepine, Phenytoin: which may reduce the action of Fenbendazole Ivermectin Tablet.
• With steroids like Dexamethasone, it can increase Fenbendazole Ivermectin Tablet concentration in blood causing toxicity.
• Antacids: It can also cause Fenbendazole Ivermectin Tablet toxicity.
• Sedative pills like Clonazepam, Clonazepam: as Ivermectin can affect GABA system.

Side Effects

Mild side effects:

• Dizziness, headache: These occur only for a few minutes of taking the medicine and should go away. If not, then you need to consult with the doctors. Take rest and avoid doing any major work during this time.
• Vomiting, nausea: Can occur more if you take it after a heavy meal.
• Dryness in mouth, taste changes: Take water regularly and it should not last long.

Severe side effects:

• Diarrhoea: Consult with a doctor if it lasts more than 2 to 3 days.
• Bloating and stomach pain: Take bland diet and avoid heavy meals and for severe stomach pain contact your doctor.
• Blur vision: Avoid risky activities like driving and take rest.

Precautions and Warnings

• Pregnancy: Avoid this medicine, especially during the first few months of pregnancy.
• Breastfeeding: The combination is also not recommended for breastfeeding mothers until the baby is least one week old.
• The “Mazzotti Reaction”: This occurs when the immune system reacts with the proteins secreted at the time of lysis of parasites and worms. It can cause a few symptoms like- fever, hives, headache, joint pain, and swollen lymph nodes. It can be seen on the first intake of the drug only.
• Avoid use in infants: It is usually an idea to avoid this combination in small children who weigh less than 15 kg.
• Avoid with liver disorders: People with liver conditions should be careful with the combination because the liver processes both drugs.
• Alcohol Interaction: Alcohol can increase risks of side effects like headache, drowsiness and fatigue. In addition, regular alcohol use can affect liver function reducing the action of the medicine in your body.

When Not To Use

Weight and Age Constraints:

The minimum bodyweight of a child has to be more than 15 kg. At the time of administration, the child’s age must be more than 2 years.

Pre-existing Health Conditions:

Severe Liver Disease: Avoid the medicine if you have disorders like-

• Liver cancer
• Cirrhosis
• Fatty liver
• Hepatic infections

With meningitis:

In this case, the Ivermectin can enter the central nervous system and affect the patient causing coma or even death.

Signs of an Allergic Reaction:

Signs of being allergic include-

• Swelling of the face, lips, or tongue
• Sudden difficulty breathing
• Severe skin rashes or blistering

Storage And Disposal

Store the bottle of the Fenbendazole Ivermectin Tablet for humans away from the excess humid regions of your house such as the kitchen or the bathroom and avoid keeping it under sunlight.

Dispose pills once it goes beyond the expiry date printed on the back of the sachet and do not use them.

Where To Buy Fenbendazole Ivermectin Tablets In Australia?

In Australia, both the generic drug substances Fenbendazole Ivermectin Tablet are available as prescription substances. You can easily buy them from pharmacy shops or online web stores. Check out AustraliaRXMeds, which is the No. 1 online licensed pharmacy portal in the country.