Mebendazole Dosage

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Jul 29, 2024.

Usual Adult Dose for Hookworm Infection (Necator or Ancylostoma)

100 mg chewable tablet: 100 mg orally twice a day (morning and evening) for 3 consecutive days

Comments:

• If the patient is not cured 3 weeks after treatment, a second course of therapy is advised.

Uses: For the treatment of gastrointestinal infections due to Ancylostoma duodenal (hookworm) or Necator americanus (hookworm)

Some Experts Recommend:

• Ancylostoma caninum: 100 mg orally twice a day for 3 days
• A duodenal, N americanus: 100 mg orally twice a day for 3 days OR 500 mg orally once as a single dose

Comments:

• Recommended as a regimen for A caninum, A duodenal, and N americanus
• Current guidelines should be consulted for additional information.

Usual Adult Dose for Whipworm Infection (Trichuris trichiura)

100 mg chewable tablet: 100 mg orally twice a day (morning and evening) for 3 consecutive days
500 mg chewable tablet: 500 mg orally once as a single dose

Comments:

• If the patient is not cured 3 weeks after treatment with the 100 mg chewable tablet, a second course of therapy is advised.

Use: For the treatment of gastrointestinal infections due to Trichuris trichiura (whipworm)

Some Experts Recommend: 100 mg orally twice a day for 3 days

Comments:

• Recommended as an alternative regimen for trichuriasis due to T trichiura (whipworm)
• Current guidelines should be consulted for additional information.

Usual Adult Dose for Ascariasis

100 mg chewable tablet: 100 mg orally twice a day (morning and evening) for 3 consecutive days
500 mg chewable tablet: 500 mg orally once as a single dose

Comments:

• If the patient is not cured 3 weeks after treatment with the 100 mg chewable tablet, a second course of therapy is advised.

Use: For the treatment of gastrointestinal infections due to Ascaris lumbricoides (roundworm)

Some Experts Recommend: 100 mg orally twice a day for 3 days OR 500 mg orally once as a single dose

Comments:

• Recommended as a regimen for ascariasis due to A lumbricoides
• Current guidelines should be consulted for additional information.

Usual Adult Dose for Pinworm Infection (Enterobius vermicularis)

100 mg chewable tablet: 100 mg orally once as a single dose

Comments:

• If the patient is not cured 3 weeks after treatment, a second course of therapy is advised.

Use: For the treatment of gastrointestinal infections due to Enterobius vermicularis (pinworm)

Some Experts Recommend: 100 mg orally once as a single dose

Comments:

• Recommended as a regimen for E vermicularis (pinworm) infection
• This dose should be repeated in 2 weeks.
• Since family members are usually infected, the entire household should be treated.
• Current guidelines should be consulted for additional information.

Usual Adult Dose for Capillariasis

Some Experts Recommend: 200 mg orally twice a day for 20 days

Comments:

• Recommended as a regimen for capillariasis due to Capillaria philippinensis
• Current guidelines should be consulted for additional information.

Usual Adult Dose for Trichostrongylosis

Some Experts Recommend: 100 mg orally twice a day for 3 days

Comments:

• Recommended as an alternative regimen for Trichostrongylus infection
• Current guidelines should be consulted for additional information.

Usual Adult Dose for Trichinosis

Some Experts Recommend: 200 to 400 mg orally 3 times a day for 3 days, then 400 to 500 mg orally 3 times a day for 10 days

Comments:

• Recommended as an alternative regimen for trichinellosis due to Trichinella species (including Trichinella spiralis)
• Concomitant steroid therapy is recommended for severe symptoms.
• Current guidelines should be consulted for additional information.

Usual Adult Dose for Visceral Larva Migrans (Toxicariasis)

Some Experts Recommend: 100 to 200 mg orally twice a day for 5 days

Comments:

• Recommended as a regimen for visceral larva migrans (toxocariasis)
• Optimal duration of therapy unknown; some experts recommend treatment for 20 days.
• For severe symptoms or eye involvement, therapy should continue for 2 to 4 weeks; concomitant corticosteroids might be considered.
• Current guidelines should be consulted for additional information.

Usual Pediatric Dose for Hookworm Infection (Necator or Ancylostoma)

100 mg chewable tablet:
2 years or older: 100 mg orally twice a day (morning and evening) for 3 consecutive days

Comments:

• If the patient is not cured 3 weeks after treatment, a second course of therapy is advised.

Uses: For the treatment of gastrointestinal infections due to A duodenal (hookworm) or N americanus (hookworm)

Some Experts Recommend:

• A caninum: 100 mg orally twice a day for 3 days
• A duodenal, N americanus: 100 mg orally twice a day for 3 days OR 500 mg orally once as a single dose

Comments:

• Recommended as a regimen for A caninum, A duodenal, and N americanus
• Current guidelines should be consulted for additional information.

Usual Pediatric Dose for Whipworm Infection (Trichuris trichiura)

100 mg chewable tablet:
2 years or older: 100 mg orally twice a day (morning and evening) for 3 consecutive days

500 mg chewable tablet:
1 year or older: 500 mg orally once as a single dose

Comments:

• If the patient is not cured 3 weeks after treatment with the 100 mg chewable tablet, a second course of therapy is advised.

Use: For the treatment of gastrointestinal infections due to T trichiura (whipworm)

Some Experts Recommend: 100 mg orally twice a day for 3 days

Comments:

• Recommended as an alternative regimen for trichuriasis due to T trichiura (whipworm)
• Current guidelines should be consulted for additional information.

Usual Pediatric Dose for Ascariasis

100 mg chewable tablet:
2 years or older: 100 mg orally twice a day (morning and evening) for 3 consecutive days

500 mg chewable tablet:
1 year or older: 500 mg orally once as a single dose

Comments:

• If the patient is not cured 3 weeks after treatment with the 100 mg chewable tablet, a second course of therapy is advised.

Use: For the treatment of gastrointestinal infections due to A lumbricoides (roundworm)

Some Experts Recommend: 100 mg orally twice a day for 3 days OR 500 mg orally once as a single dose

Comments:

• Recommended as a regimen for ascariasis due to A lumbricoides
• Current guidelines should be consulted for additional information.

Usual Pediatric Dose for Pinworm Infection (Enterobius vermicularis)

100 mg chewable tablet:
2 years or older: 100 mg orally once as a single dose

Comments:

• If the patient is not cured 3 weeks after treatment, a second course of therapy is advised.

Use: For the treatment of gastrointestinal infections due to E vermicularis (pinworm)

Some Experts Recommend: 100 mg orally once as a single dose

Comments:

• Recommended as a regimen for E vermicularis (pinworm) infection
• This dose should be repeated in 2 weeks.
• Since family members are usually infected, the entire household should be treated.
• Current guidelines should be consulted for additional information.

Usual Pediatric Dose for Capillariasis

Some Experts Recommend: 200 mg orally twice a day for 20 days

Comments:

• Recommended as a regimen for capillariasis due to C philippinensis
• Current guidelines should be consulted for additional information.

Usual Pediatric Dose for Trichostrongylosis

Some Experts Recommend: 100 mg orally twice a day for 3 days

Comments:

• Recommended as an alternative agent for Trichostrongylus infection
• Current guidelines should be consulted for additional information.

Usual Pediatric Dose for Trichinosis

Some Experts Recommend: 200 to 400 mg orally 3 times a day for 3 days, then 400 to 500 mg orally 3 times a day for 10 days

Comments:

• Recommended as an alternative regimen for trichinellosis due to Trichinella species (including T spiralis)
• Concomitant steroid therapy is recommended for severe symptoms.
• Current guidelines should be consulted for additional information.

Usual Pediatric Dose for Visceral Larva Migrans (Toxicariasis)

Some Experts Recommend: 100 to 200 mg orally twice a day for 5 days

Comments:

• Recommended as a regimen for visceral larva migrans (toxocariasis)
• Optimal duration of therapy unknown; some experts recommend treatment for 20 days.
• For severe symptoms or eye involvement, therapy should continue for 2 to 4 weeks; concomitant corticosteroids might be considered.
• Current guidelines should be consulted for additional information.

Renal Dose Adjustments

Data not available

Liver Dose Adjustments

Data not available

Precautions

CONTRAINDICATIONS:
Known hypersensitivity to the active component or any of the ingredients

100 mg chewable tablet: Safety and efficacy have not been established in patients younger than 2 years.
500 mg chewable tablet: Safety and efficacy have not been established in patients younger 1 year.

Consult WARNINGS section for additional precautions.

Dialysis

Data not available

Other Comments

Administration advice:

• May administer with or without food
• The 100 mg chewable tablet formulation: May chew, swallow, or crush and mix with food; no special procedures (e.g., fasting, purging) needed.
• The 500 mg chewable tablet formulation: Chew tablet completely before swallowing; do not swallow tablet whole.
• If patient has difficulty chewing the tablet: Place tablet in a spoon and use a dosing syringe to add about 2 to 3 mL of drinking water; the tablet absorbs the water within 2 minutes, turning into a soft mass (semi-solid consistency) which can then be swallowed.

Storage requirements:

• The 100 mg chewable tablet formulation: Store at controlled room temperature 15C to 25C (59F to 77F).
• The 500 mg chewable tablet formulation: Store below 30C (86F) and keep bottle tightly closed; discard unused tablets 1 month after the bottle is first opened.

Monitoring:

• Hematologic: Blood counts (when used at higher doses or for prolonged duration)

Patient advice:

• The 100 mg chewable tablet: Read the US FDA-approved patient labeling (Patient Information).
• Avoid using this drug with metronidazole.

See also:

Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

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