Worm prevention pills

When it comes to worms, it is important to remember that their prevention is a simpler and more effective procedure than treatment. Helminths cause quite a lot of different diseases, including some quite serious ones, so each of us needs to think about timely and correct prevention of parasitic diseases. There are various pills for this.

Indications for use

Even the most true supporters of preventive treatment will say that taking pills all the time is not the right approach. But there are cases when pills for the prevention of worms are prescribed even in the absence of positive tests.

For example, if at least one family member has been diagnosed with helminths, it is best to immediately treat the entire family with preventive pills. Also, medications for preventive measures can be taken if the patient has been diagnosed with the main signs of helminth disease: itching in the anus, poor appetite, and bowel movement disorders. Doctors also recommend taking pills for the prevention of helminths in the following cases:

1. Daily contact with pets.
2. When constantly working with the soil.
3. After visiting exotic countries.
4. If children often play in the sandbox.
5. If you are into fishing or beach sports.
6. If children or adults spend a long time in a closed and close group.

Read also:

• Deworming tablets
• Drops for worms

Pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics

Let's consider the pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of tablets for the prevention of worms using the example of the popular drug "Pirantel".

The active component of this product, pyrantel pamoate, is active against a wide range of helminths (Ascaris Iumbricoidcs, Enterobius vermicularis, Necator Americanus, Ancylostoma doudenalc, Trichostrongylus colubriformis). It acts equally on both mature and immature helminths. But it is not active against larvae.

It is absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract quite hard. Pyrantel is partially metabolized in the liver, entering it from the systemic bloodstream. Most of the drug is excreted unchanged in feces. It can also be excreted through the urinary system.

Names of tablets for the prevention of worms

Today, all antihelminthic drugs can be divided into non-specific and specific depending on the spectrum of their effects. When buying, it is worth paying attention to the fact that drugs with a narrow focus are usually more toxic. If you only need to take preventive measures, then broad-spectrum drugs are more suitable for you. If you suspect that you have already been infected with helminths, you need to contact a parasitologist who will conduct tests and prescribe special treatment.

The most popular tablets for the prevention of worms today are the following:

1. Pyrantel.
2. Vermox.
3. Decaris.
4. Embonate of the first.

Each of these drugs has advantages, disadvantages and specific characteristics, which you will learn about below.

Pyrantel

The safest means for the prevention of helminths is considered to be Pirantel. This can be explained by the fact that the active substances of this drug do not enter the systemic bloodstream, their mechanism of action is limited to the lumen of the intestine. But it has several important features. Firstly, it is worth knowing that Pirantel cannot prevent infection with helminths, but it helps to quickly paralyze the muscles of worms, which destroys them over time. A few days after using the drug, dead helminths leave the body along with feces.

The active ingredient of the drug is pyrantel pamoate. This drug is actively used not only for the prevention of helminths, but also for the treatment of necatoriasis, ascariasis, enterobiasis and ancylostomiasis. It is taken during meals. The dosage is individual and is prescribed by the attending physician depending on the severity of the disease and the patient's weight. The tablet is chewed.

The drug is contraindicated in a number of cases:

1. During treatment of myasthenia gravis.
2. In childhood (up to three years).
3. In case of intolerance to the components of the drug.
4. In case of liver failure, the drug should be taken with caution.

In case of overdose, gastric lavage is performed.

The main side effects of Pirantel include:

1. Headaches.
2. Drowsiness or, conversely, insomnia.
3. Hallucinations and confusion.
4. Poor appetite.
5. Nausea with vomiting.
6. Allergy.

Vermox

The active ingredient of the anthelmintic drug Vermox is mebendazole. It is often prescribed for the treatment of ascariasis, enterobiasis, strongyloidiasis, ancylostomiasis, trichinosis, trichuriasis, echinococcosis, taeniasis, capillariasis, alveococcosis, gnathostomiasis. It is worth noting that, despite its effectiveness, this drug is toxic.

Due to the action of the active substance Vermox, the drug quickly disrupts the metabolism of helminths, which causes their non-viability. Mebendazole does not enter the patient's blood, but accumulates in fairly large quantities in tissues and organs. Therefore, do not take this drug without a preliminary examination by a doctor.

Vermox is taken one tablet once a day with a small amount of water. The therapy is short-term - only one day. If there is a risk of re-invasion, the drug can be taken again, but only after two to four weeks.

Vermox has a number of contraindications. Doctors do not recommend taking it in the following cases:

1. For Crohn's disease.
2. For non-specific ulcerative colitis.
3. For liver diseases.
4. In childhood (up to two years).
5. During pregnancy.
6. In case of intolerance to the components of the drug.

In case of overdose, the patient may experience the following symptoms: nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain. For treatment, the drug is removed from the stomach using a lavage procedure.

The main side effects from taking the drug may be:

1. Pain in the abdominal area.
2. Nausea and vomiting.
3. Dizziness.

Decaris

The active ingredient of this antihelminthic drug is levamisole hydrochloride. With its help, you can quickly get rid of human roundworms, as well as mixed types of helminth infections that can simultaneously parasitize in the human body. Levamisole acts on the respiratory tract of worms, causing their death. The main advantage of Decaris is the fact that it can be used to activate immunity.

Take one tablet (150 mg) once. It is best to use the product after meals in the evening. Take the tablet with a small amount of liquid. If necessary, the dose can be repeated in one or two weeks.

The drug is contraindicated in:

1. Lactation.
2. Pregnancy.
3. In childhood (up to three years).
4. Agranulocytosis.
5. For liver or kidney diseases.

After taking too much levamisole hydrochloride, the following symptoms are possible: vomiting, diarrhea, drowsiness, convulsions, dizziness. Treat with gastric lavage.

The main side effects of taking the drug include:

1. Pain in the abdominal area.
2. Insomnia.
3. Headaches.
4. Increased heart rate.
5. Allergic reactions.

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Embonate of Pervinia

Antihelminthic drug with selective action. It is active only against pinworms, which belong to the group of roundworms.

It blocks specific enzymes in the body of helminths, so they die quite quickly. They are excreted with feces. Please note that after taking Embonate Pervinium, the stool may turn red.

The drug is taken once, one tablet after meals. It can cause some side effects: allergies, rashes, irritation, headaches.

Method of administration and dosage of tablets for the prevention of worms

For the prevention of helminths, all tablets that exist today are taken once. The dosage is usually standard (one tablet), but in some cases, advice from a doctor is necessary, since sometimes drugs are prescribed based on the patient's weight (for example, "Pirantel").

The tablet should be taken with a sufficient amount of liquid, preferably plain water. As a rule, anthelmintic drugs are taken after meals in the evening.

Using Pills to Prevent Worm During Pregnancy

During pregnancy, antihelminthic tablets are contraindicated. They are prescribed only by a doctor in very extreme cases.

Contraindications for use

Like any medical preparations, tablets for the prevention of worms have their contraindications. Therefore, before using the product, it is necessary to carefully read the instructions for it. The most common contraindications in this case are:

1. Pregnancy and lactation period.
2. Intolerance to the components of the drug.
3. Early age of the patient (usually up to two or three years).
4. Allergic reactions to substances that are part of the drug.
5. Liver failure.

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Side effects

As mentioned above, all anthelmintic drugs can be specific or non-specific. The former are more toxic, although they are effective against most worms. They often cause severe side effects, so they should only be taken after visiting a doctor.

The most common side effects from taking anthelmintic pills include:

1. Headache.
2. Dizziness.
3. Nausea and vomiting.
4. Pain in the stomach area.
5. Skin irritations and rashes.
6. Other allergic reactions.

Overdose

Unfortunately, when a patient prescribes pills for preventive purposes, overdose is a common and widespread problem. It is worth understanding that such drugs are usually taken only once, and repeated therapy can only be carried out after one or two weeks. In case of overdose, the patient often experiences nausea, dizziness, vomiting, abdominal pain. Gastric lavage is performed for treatment.

Interactions with other drugs

Although deworming tablets may seem harmless to us, they should not be taken together with certain other medications.

Pyrantel, for example, can weaken the effect of piperazine and also increase the plasma concentration of theophylline.

When using Vermox in patients with diabetes mellitus, the need for insulin may decrease. This drug should not be used with lipophilic substances. When Vermox and Cimetidine are taken simultaneously, the concentration of the former in the blood may increase.

Decaris is not recommended to be taken with alcoholic beverages, as disulfiram-like effects may occur. If you are taking pills that affect hematopoiesis, you should take Decaris with caution. It is prohibited to take this drug simultaneously with Tetrachloroethylene, Tetrachloromethane, Chloroform and Ether.

Storage conditions and shelf life

It is recommended to store the tablets for the prevention of worms in a cool (+13-15 degrees) and dark place. Keep small children away from the drugs.

The shelf life is quite long and is about five years. Do not take the tablets after their expiration date.

Good tablets for the prevention of worms

Often people do not even notice that they are infected with helminths, because the symptoms in some cases can be quite vague and unclear. That is why prevention plays an important role in the treatment of many diseases associated with worms.

Doctors recommend taking preventive measures in spring and autumn, when the body is most susceptible to worm attacks. Today, there are a huge number of tablets for preventing helminths. We have named the most common ones above, but in addition to them, the following drugs are quite effective:

1. Biltricide (active ingredient praziquantel).
2. Vormil (active ingredient albendazole).
3. Nemocide (active ingredient pyrantel).

Whatever drug you choose, the main thing to remember is safety precautions and personal hygiene. If you always wash your hands before eating and after contact with pets, shower twice a day and prepare food properly, the chances of getting worms will decrease.