Albendazole Side Effects

Some side effects of albendazole may not be reported. Always consult your doctor or healthcare specialist for medical advice. You may also report side effects to the FDA.

For the Consumer

Applies to albendazole: oral tablet

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

Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

• easy bruising or bleeding, unusual weakness;

• fever, sore throat, and headache with a severe blistering, peeling, and red skin rash; or

• fever with chills, body aches, or flu-like symptoms.

Less serious side effects of albendazole may include:

• stomach pain;

• nausea, vomiting;

• headache, dizziness; or

• temporary hair loss.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.

For Healthcare Professionals

Applies to albendazole: compounding powder, oral tablet

General

The side effects of albendazole differ between hydatid disease and neurocysticercosis. The symptoms were generally mild and resolved without treatment. Treatment was discontinued primarily due to leukopenia (0.7%) or hepatic abnormalities (3.8% in hydatid disease).

Dermatologic

Dermatologic side effects have included reversible alopecia (1.6% in hydatid disease; less than 1% in neurocysticercosis). Erythema multiforme and Stevens-Johnson syndrome have been reported during postmarketing experience.

Hypersensitivity

Hypersensitivity side effects have included hypersensitivity reactions (including rash and urticaria) in less than 1% of patients.

Renal

Renal side effects have included acute renal failure during postmarketing experience.

Hepatic

Hepatic side effects have included abnormal liver function tests (15.6% in hydatid disease; less than 1% in neurocysticercosis) and hepatotoxicity (greater than or equal to 1%). Hepatic abnormalities, acute liver failure, elevations of hepatic enzymes, and hepatitis have been reported during postmarketing experience.

Hematologic

Hematologic side effects have rarely included granulocytopenia, agranulocytosis, pancytopenia, and thrombocytopenia. Leukopenia has been reported in less than 1% of patients. Aplastic anemia, bone marrow suppression, and neutropenia have been reported during postmarketing experience.

Gastrointestinal

Gastrointestinal side effects have included abdominal pain (6% in hydatid disease), nausea/vomiting (3.7% in hydatid disease; 6.2% in neurocysticercosis).

Nervous system

Nervous system side effects have included headache (1.3% in hydatid disease; 11% in neurocysticercosis), dizziness/vertigo (1.2% in hydatid disease; less than 1% in neurocysticercosis), raised intracranial pressure (1.5% in neurocysticercosis), meningeal signs (1% in neurocysticercosis).

Other

Other side effects have included fever (1% in hydatid disease).

Ocular

Ocular side effects have included retinal damage.

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