Treatment FAQ

how many days between praziquantel treatment

by Dr. Ernestine Altenwerth I Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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Precautions

 · Uses: For the treatment of clonorchiasis and opisthorchiasis due to the liver flukes C sinensis/O viverrini Some Experts Recommend: 4 years or older: 75 mg/kg/day orally in 3 divided doses Duration of therapy: 2 days Comments:-Current guidelines should be consulted for additional information. Usual Pediatric Dose for Clornorchis sinensis (Liver Fluke)

How long does it take for praziquantel to work?

 · Praziquantel is usually taken 3 times in one day. Take your doses 4 to 6 hours apart on that day. Praziquantel should be taken with a meal and a full glass (8 ounces) of water. You may need to break a praziquantel tablet in order to get the correct dose. Follow your doctor's instructions. Do not chew the tablet or portion of a tablet.

How do you take praziquantel 3 times a day?

 · 50-100 mg/kg per day divided every 8 hours orally for 14 days; Pediatric Dosage: Children under 4 years old: safety and efficacy not established; Children 4 years and older: 50-100 mg/kg orally three times daily for 30 days; Flukes (off-label) Adult Dosage: 75 mg/kg per day orally divided three times per day for 1-2 days; Pediatric Dosage:

What happens if I stop taking praziquantel too soon?

 · However, if treatment with praziquantel is needed, stop taking rifampin 4 weeks before using praziquantel. You may restart taking rifampin one day after your last dose of praziquantel. Praziquantel kills the worms and could cause unwanted effects (eg, serum sickness, paradoxical reaction) as your body heals, especially during the early stages of …

How often should I take praziquantel for schistosomiasis?

 · Praziquantel is broken down by bacteria much faster than 30 days after multiple treatment.. 8 days for the first treatment and 2 days for the next. The bacteria population grows: rapidly in response to the presence of prazi to work on. Here is the reference:

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How often can you take praziquantel?

Adults and children 1 year of age and older—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor. The dose is 20 milligrams (mg) per kilogram (kg) of body weight taken 3 times a day for 1 day only. Each dose should be at least 4 hours apart and not more than 6 hours apart.

When do you repeat praziquantel?

Studies have suggested that a repeat dose of praziquantel, given 2 to 8 weeks after the first dose, can improve cure rates and reduce remaining intensity of infections in population-based programs.

How often can you give a dog praziquantel?

Praziquantel is typically administered as a single dose of one or more tablets, which is typically given on the day that it is prescribed. If you forget to give the dose after your veterinary visit, give it as soon as you remember to do so.

How often can you take Biltricide?

How to use Biltricide. Take this medication by mouth with a meal as directed by your doctor, usually 3 times a day (4 to 6 hours apart) for 1 day. Quickly swallow the tablets or tablet segments with a full glass of water (8 ounces or 240 milliliters).

How fast does praziquantel work?

1 to 2 hoursThis medication should take effect within 1 to 2 hours; however, effects may not be noted outwardly and therefore laboratory tests may need to be done to evaluate this medication's effectiveness.

How often do I give praziquantel to my cat?

In many cases, pets only need a single praziquantel dose to eliminate all the tapeworms in their system. This makes it easy and effective to complete the treatment. However, if your pet is at risk of quickly becoming reinfected with tapeworms, your vet may recommend a second dose of the drug.

How many doses does it take to get rid of tapeworms in dogs?

Treatment for Tapeworms in Dogs Most commonly, your pup will be given two doses of a drug called praziquantel two weeks apart. The goal of this treatment is to interrupt the life cycle of any parasites affecting your pup. Two doses will generally suffice in curing these infections, but they have a tendency to recur.

How often should you deworm your dog?

every three monthsHow often should I treat my dog for worms? At least every three months. Depending on your pet's lifestyle, more regular worming may need to be undertaken and it is recommended this be discussed with your vet if you are concerned.

How long after deworming will my dog pass worms?

3 daysYour puppy will pass worms with their poo after deworming. This happens for up to 3 days after the deworming process. If you do not dispose of the excrement properly, the eggs in the poop can cause reinfection if your pup comes into contact with them.

Who should not take praziquantel?

You should not use praziquantel if you are allergic to it, or if: you have a parasitic infection in your eye; or. you have taken rifampin within the past 4 weeks.

How safe is praziquantel?

Praziquantel single-dose is still safe and efficacious against Schistosoma mansoni infection. However, the lack of cure in about one-fifth and adverse events in a quarter, of the infected children indicate the need for close praziquantel safety monitoring and treatment optimization research to improve efficacy.

How quickly does Biltricide work?

How Long Does Biltricide Take to Work? Most cases of schistosomiasis can be resolved with a one-day course of treatment. 8 Clonorchiasis and opisthorchiasis (liver fluke infection) require two days.

What is the half life of praziquantel?

CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY After oral administration BILTRICIDE is rapidly absorbed (80%), subjected to a first pass effect, metabolized and eliminated by the kidneys. Maximal serum concentration is achieved 1-3 hours after dosing. The half-life of praziquantel in serum is 0.8-1.5 hours.

How long does praziquantel take to work in fish?

While praziquantel does remain active in the water column for up to 72 hours, only 24 hours are needed for it to eradicate external worms.

How long does it take for tapeworm medicine to work?

Mebendazole does not kill the eggs of the worm. This is why you may need to take another dose 2 weeks later to help prevent reinfection. The medicine should start to work straight away but it may take several days to kill all the worms. It is important that you take the medicine as a pharmacist or doctor tells you.

When should I take praziquantel after exposure?

The timing of treatment is important since praziquantel is most effective against the adult worm and requires the presence of a mature antibody response to the parasite. For travelers, treatment should be at least 6-8 weeks after last exposure to potentially contaminated freshwater.

Usual Adult Dose For Schistosoma japonicum

60 mg/kg/day orally in 2 or 3 divided dosesDuration of therapy: 1 dayComments:-Retreatment in 2 to 6 weeks has been reported to increase cure.-Cons...

Usual Adult Dose For Schistosoma haematobium

60 mg/kg/day orally in 3 divided doses or 40 mg/kg/day orally in 1 to 2 divided dosesDuration of therapy: 1 dayComments:-Retreatment in 2 to 6 week...

Usual Adult Dose For Opisthorchis viverrini (Liver Fluke)

75 mg/kg/day orally in 3 divided dosesDuration of therapy: 1 to 2 daysComments:-Considered the drug of choice

Usual Adult Dose For Fasciolopsis Buski (Intestinal Fluke)

75 mg/kg/day orally in 3 divided dosesDuration of therapy: 1 dayComments:-Considered the drug of choice

Usual Adult Dose For Nanophyetus Salmincola

60 mg/kg/day orally in 3 divided dosesDuration of therapy: 1 dayComments:-Considered the drug of choice

Usual Adult Dose For Paragonimus westermani (Lung Fluke)

75 mg/kg/day orally in 3 divided dosesDuration of therapy: 2 daysComments:-Considered the drug of choiceCase Report (n=1)75 mg/kg/day for 3 days

Usual Adult Dose For Cysticercus cellulosae (Cysticercosis)

50 mg/kg/day orallyDuration of therapy: 15 daysComments:-For the tissue (larval) stage-Recommended as alternative therapy-The daily dose has been g...

Usual Pediatric Dose For Schistosoma japonicum

4 years or older: 60 mg/kg/day orally in 3 divided dosesDuration of therapy: 1 dayComments:-Retreatment in 2 to 6 weeks has been reported to increa...

Usual Pediatric Dose For Schistosoma haematobium

4 years or older: 60 mg/kg/day orally in 3 divided doses or 40 mg/kg/day orally in 2 divided dosesDuration of therapy: 1 dayComments:-Retreatment i...

Usual Pediatric Dose For Opisthorchis viverrini (Liver Fluke)

4 years or older: 75 mg/kg/day orally in 3 divided dosesDuration of therapy: 1 to 2 daysComments:-Considered the drug of choice

Before Taking This Medicine

You should not take this medicine if you are allergic to praziquantel, or if you have take rifampin (Rifadin, Rifater, Rifamate) in the last 4 week...

How Should I Take Praziquantel?

Take exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not take in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended. Follow the directions on your p...

What Happens If I Miss A Dose?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not take extra medicine to...

What Should I Avoid While Taking Praziquantel?

Praziquantel may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert.Grapefruit and grapefruit...

Praziquantel Side Effects

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue...

What Other Drugs Will Affect Praziquantel?

Tell your doctor about all other medications you are using, especially: 1. cimetidine (Tagamet); 2. chloroquine (Aralen); 3. itraconazole (Sporanox...

How to break a tablet?

If you have been told to break your tablet, you can break off a part by pressing the notch with your thumbnails. If one-fourth of a tablet is required, break the tablet from the outer end.

Can you take IBM Micromedex more than once?

Drug information provided by: IBM Micromedex. Take this medicine exactly as directed by your doctor. Do not take more of it, do not take it more often, and do not take it for a longer time than your doctor ordered. To do so may increase the chance of side effects.

Can you chew Praziquantel?

The bitter taste may be more noticeable if the tablets are held in the mouth or chewed. Therefore, do not chew praziquantel tablets. Swallow the tablets whole with water during meals.

Can you eat grapefruit while taking a syringe?

Your infection may not clear up if you stop using the medicine too soon. Do not eat grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice while you are using this medicine.

What is Praziquantel used for?

Praziquantel is also used to treat infection with liver flukes, caused by a type of worm found in East Asia. This worm enters the body while eating contaminated fish. Praziquantel is for use in adults and children who are at least 1 year old. Praziquantel may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

When was the 2021 meds review?

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com on Feb 1, 2021 . Written by Cerner Multum.

Can you drive on Praziquantel?

Avoid driving or hazardous activity on the day you take praziquantel, and also the day after. Your reactions could be impaired. Grapefruit may interact with praziquantel and lead to unwanted side effects. Avoid the use of grapefruit products.

Can a child swallow Praziquantel?

If the child taking praziquantel cannot swallow a tablet or tablet portion whole, crush the tablet and mix it with a liquid or semi-solid food. The child should swallow the mixture right away without chewing.

Do you have to break a praziquantel?

You may need to break a praziquantel tablet in order to get the correct dose. Follow your doctor's instructions.

Can you take praziquantel if you are allergic to rifampin?

You should not take praziquantel if you are allergic to praziquantel, or if you have taken rifampin in the last 4 weeks.

Can you take praziquantel and other medications at the same time?

Some drugs can affect your blood levels of other drugs you take, which may increase side effects or make the medications less effective. Many drugs can affect praziquantel, and some drugs should not be used at the same time.

How many mg of Praziquantel is in a tablet?

Praziquantel tablets, USP contain 600 mg of Praziquantel, USP. The tablets are white to off white, film-coated, oblong tablet with three scores coded with “PAR” on one side “231” on the reverse side.

How old do you have to be to take Praziquantel?

Praziquantel tablets are indicated in patients aged 1 year and older for the treatment of the following infections:

Does Praziquantel cause stillbirths?

In other published studies, including a retrospective observational study, case series and case reports, there have been no reports of major birth defects, stillbirths or other adverse pregnancy outcomes associated with the use of Praziquantel during pregnancy.

Does Praziquantel affect birth weight?

Treatment with Praziquantel during pregnancy had no effect on birth weight, and there were no differences in rates of miscarriage, fetal death and major birth defects between the Praziquantel­-treated and control patients.

Does Praziquantel help with schistosoma?

Two randomized controlled clinical trials have been conducted using Praziquantel for the treatment of schistosoma infection in pregnant women. In one randomized controlled trial in pregnant women with schistosoma ( S. japonicum) infection, 186 pregnant women were treated with Praziquantel compared to 184 women who received placebo. Treatment with Praziquantel during pregnancy had no effect on birth weight, and there were no differences in rates of miscarriage, fetal death and major birth defects between the Praziquantel­-treated and control patients. In another randomized controlled trial that included 2,507 pregnant women in Uganda, 18% of women were infected with schistosoma infection. Treatment with Praziquantel during pregnancy had no effect on mean birth weight, perinatal mortality or major birth defects.

Can you take Praziquantel while pregnant?

Published studies have not identified an association with Praziquantel use during pregnancy and major birth defects, miscarriage or adverse maternal or fetal outcomes (see Data). In animal reproduction studies conducted in pregnant rats and rabbits no adverse developmental outcomes were observed with oral administration of Praziquantel during organogenesis at approximately 0.65 times (rats) or 1.3 times (rabbits) the highest recommended human daily dose of 75 mg/kg/day, based on body surface area.

What drugs can reduce CYP 450?

Other CYP 450 Inducers. Concomitant administration of other drugs that are CYP450 inducers, for example, antiepileptic drugs (phenytoin, phenobarbital and carbamazepine), and dexamethasone, may also reduce plasma concentrations of Praziquantel. [See Warnings and Precautions (5.6) .]

How long after praziquantel can you restart rifampin?

Treatment with rifampin can be restarted 1 day after the completion of praziquantel treatment.

How long does rifampin last before praziquantel?

If treatment with praziquantel is necessary, rifampin should be discontinued 4 weeks before praziquantel administration. Treatment with rifampin can be restarted 1 day after completion of praziquantel treatment. Effects of Drug Abuse. None.

Can you take Biltricide if you are allergic to it?

This medication contains praziquantel. Do not take Biltricide if you are allergic to praziquantel or any ingredients contained in this drug.

Can you stop taking a medicine before checking with your doctor?

Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with your doctor, health care provider or pharmacist first.

What is Praziquantel used for?

It prevents newly hatched insect larvae (worms) from growing or multiplying in your body. Praziquantel is used to treat infections caused by Schistosoma worms, which enter the body through skin that has come into contact with contaminated water. Schistosoma worms are found in Africa, South America, Middle Eastern countries, the Caribbean, ...

Can you nurse on Praziquantel?

Either animal studies show no risk but human studies are not available or animal studies showed minor risks and human studies were done and showed no risk. Praziquantel enters breast milk; do not nurse on the day of taking the drug and for 72 hours thereafter if breastfeeding.

How old is too old to take Praziquantel?

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated pediatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of praziquantel in children 1 year of age and older. However, safety and efficacy have not been established in children younger than 1 year of age.

Where does Praziquantel travel?

They travel from your bowels to the bile ducts in the liver where they live and grow . Most patients infected with liver flukes do not show any symptoms, which may cause the infection to last a long time. Praziquantel belongs to the family of medicines called anthelmintics.

Can you restart rifampin?

You may restart taking rifampin one day after your last dose of praziquantel. Praziquantel kills the worms and could cause unwanted effects (eg, serum sickness, paradoxical reaction) as your body heals, especially during the early stages of schistosomiasis. Talk to your doctor if you have concerns.

Can you take rifampin with praziquantel?

Using these medicines together may cause serious problems. However, if treatment with praziquantel is needed, stop taking rifampin 4 weeks before using praziquantel.

Can you change the dose of Praziquantel?

The following information includes only the average doses of praziquantel. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so. The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine.

Can you stop taking Praziquantel?

Keep using praziquantel for the full treatment time, even if you feel better after the first few doses. Your infection may not clear up if you stop using the medicine too soon.

Can you take Praziquantel more than once?

Take praziquantel exactly as directed by your doctor. Do not take more of it, do not take it more often, and do not take it for a longer time than your doctor ordered. To do so may increase the chance of side effects. Praziquantel has a bitter taste that may cause gagging or vomiting.

What Is Biltricide?

Biltricide (praziquantel) is an oral prescription medication used to treat certain types of parasitic worm infections, including schistosomiasis (also known as blood flukes), clonorchiasis (Chinese liver fluke), and opisthorchiasis (Southeast Asian liver fluke).

What Is Biltricide Used For?

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Biltricide to treat three types of parasitic worm infection:

What Are the Side Effects of Biltricide?

This is not a complete list of side effects; others may occur. A medical professional can advise you on side effects. If you experience other effects, contact your pharmacist or a medical professional. You may report side effects to the FDA at www.fda.gov/medwatch or 1-800-FDA-1088.

Dosage: How Much Biltricide Should I Take?

The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

Precautions

It is important that your doctor check your or your child's progress after treatment. This is to make sure that the infection is cleared up completely and to check for unwanted effects.

What Other Medications Interact With Biltricide?

Biltricide is broken down in the body by a liver enzyme known as cytochrome P450 (CYP450). Many other drugs rely on CYP450 for metabolization, and taking these drugs with Biltricide can lead to competition for available enzymes. 1

What Medications Are Similar?

Other drugs can also be used in the treatment of schistosomiasis, clonorchiasis, and opisthorchiasis. They are often considered alternatives to Biltricide and typically used if you are allergic to praziquantel.

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Indications and Usage For Praziquantel

This medication is used to treat infections of certain parasites (such as Schistosoma and liver flukes).

May Treat: Schistosomiasis · Clonorchiasis due to C. sinensis · Opisthorchiasis · Parasitic infection

Brand Names: Biltricide

Drug Class: Anthelmintic Agents Other

Availability: Prescription Required

Pregnancy: Consult a doctor before using

May Treat: Schistosomiasis · Clonorchiasis due to C. sinensis · Opisthorchiasis · Parasitic infection

Brand Names: Biltricide

Drug Class: Anthelmintic Agents Other

Availability: Prescription Required

Pregnancy: Consult a doctor before using

Lactation: Consult a doctor before using

Alcohol: Limit intake while taking this medication

Driving: May cause drowsiness or dizziness. Use caution

Precautions

  • Swallow medicine quickly as it tastes very bitter.
  • Take with a full glass of water (8 ounces)
  • May make you dizzy. Use caution when driving.

  • Swallow medicine quickly as it tastes very bitter.
  • Take with a full glass of water (8 ounces)
  • May make you dizzy. Use caution when driving.
  • Avoid taking grapefruit juice/grapefruit with med
  • Tell doctor your complete medical history
  • Reduce or avoid drinking alcohol
  • Lab tests may be ordered to monitor therapy
  • Review all drugs you are taking with your doctor

Praziquantel Dosage and Administration

Dosage Forms and Strengths

Contraindications

Warnings and Precautions

  • The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so. The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of...
See more on mayoclinic.org

Adverse Reactions

Drug Interactions

Use in Specific Populations

Praziquantel Description

Praziquantel - Clinical Pharmacology

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