Praziquantel Dosage
Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Mar 18, 2024.
Applies to the following strengths: 600 mg
Usual Adult Dose for:
- Schistosoma haematobium
- Schistosoma japonicum
- Schistosoma mansoni
- Schistosoma mekongi
- Opisthorchis viverrini (Liver Fluke)
- Clonorchis sinensis (Liver Fluke)
- Fasciolopsis buski (Intestinal Fluke)
- Heterophyes heterophyes (Intestinal Fluke)
- Metagonimus yokogawai (Intestinal Fluke)
- Nanophyetus salmincola
- Paragonimus westermani (Lung Fluke)
- Diphyllobothrium latum (Fish Tapeworm)
- Dipylidium caninum (Dog Tapeworm)
- Taenia saginata (beef tapeworm)
- Taenia solium (pork tapeworm)
- Hymenolepis nana (Dwarf Tapeworm)
- Cysticercus cellulosae (Cysticercosis)
Usual Pediatric Dose for:
- Schistosoma haematobium
- Schistosoma japonicum
- Schistosoma mansoni
- Schistosoma mekongi
- Opisthorchis viverrini (Liver Fluke)
- Clonorchis sinensis (Liver Fluke)
- Fasciolopsis buski (Intestinal Fluke)
- Heterophyes heterophyes (Intestinal Fluke)
- Metagonimus yokogawai (Intestinal Fluke)
- Nanophyetus salmincola
- Paragonimus westermani (Lung Fluke)
- Diphyllobothrium latum (Fish Tapeworm)
- Dipylidium caninum (Dog Tapeworm)
- Taenia saginata (beef tapeworm)
- Taenia solium (pork tapeworm)
- Hymenolepis nana (Dwarf Tapeworm)
- Cysticercus cellulosae (Cysticercosis)
Additional dosage information:
Usual Adult Dose for Schistosoma haematobium
20 mg/kg orally 3 times a day
Duration of therapy: 1 day
Comments:
- Doses should be separated by 4 to 6 hours.
Use: For the treatment of schistosomiasis due to all species of Schistosoma (e.g., Schistosoma mekongi, S japonicum, S mansoni, S haematobium)
Some Experts Recommend:
- S haematobium, S mansoni: 40 mg/kg/day orally in 2 divided doses
- S japonicum, S mekongi, S intercalatum: 60 mg/kg/day orally in 3 divided doses
Comments:
- Current guidelines should be consulted for additional information.
Usual Adult Dose for Schistosoma japonicum
20 mg/kg orally 3 times a day
Duration of therapy: 1 day
Comments:
- Doses should be separated by 4 to 6 hours.
Use: For the treatment of schistosomiasis due to all species of Schistosoma (e.g., Schistosoma mekongi, S japonicum, S mansoni, S haematobium)
Some Experts Recommend:
- S haematobium, S mansoni: 40 mg/kg/day orally in 2 divided doses
- S japonicum, S mekongi, S intercalatum: 60 mg/kg/day orally in 3 divided doses
Comments:
- Current guidelines should be consulted for additional information.
Usual Adult Dose for Schistosoma mansoni
20 mg/kg orally 3 times a day
Duration of therapy: 1 day
Comments:
- Doses should be separated by 4 to 6 hours.
Use: For the treatment of schistosomiasis due to all species of Schistosoma (e.g., Schistosoma mekongi, S japonicum, S mansoni, S haematobium)
Some Experts Recommend:
- S haematobium, S mansoni: 40 mg/kg/day orally in 2 divided doses
- S japonicum, S mekongi, S intercalatum: 60 mg/kg/day orally in 3 divided doses
Comments:
- Current guidelines should be consulted for additional information.
Usual Adult Dose for Schistosoma mekongi
20 mg/kg orally 3 times a day
Duration of therapy: 1 day
Comments:
- Doses should be separated by 4 to 6 hours.
Use: For the treatment of schistosomiasis due to all species of Schistosoma (e.g., Schistosoma mekongi, S japonicum, S mansoni, S haematobium)
Some Experts Recommend:
- S haematobium, S mansoni: 40 mg/kg/day orally in 2 divided doses
- S japonicum, S mekongi, S intercalatum: 60 mg/kg/day orally in 3 divided doses
Comments:
- Current guidelines should be consulted for additional information.
Usual Adult Dose for Opisthorchis viverrini (Liver Fluke)
25 mg/kg orally 3 times a day
Duration of therapy: 1 day
Comments:
- Doses should be separated by 4 to 6 hours.
Uses: For the treatment of clonorchiasis and opisthorchiasis due to the liver flukes Clonorchis sinensis/Opisthorchis viverrini
Some Experts Recommend: 75 mg/kg/day orally in 3 divided doses
Duration of therapy: 2 days
Comments:
- Current guidelines should be consulted for additional information.
Usual Adult Dose for Clonorchis sinensis (Liver Fluke)
25 mg/kg orally 3 times a day
Duration of therapy: 1 day
Comments:
- Doses should be separated by 4 to 6 hours.
Uses: For the treatment of clonorchiasis and opisthorchiasis due to the liver flukes Clonorchis sinensis/Opisthorchis viverrini
Some Experts Recommend: 75 mg/kg/day orally in 3 divided doses
Duration of therapy: 2 days
Comments:
- Current guidelines should be consulted for additional information.
Usual Adult Dose for Fasciolopsis buski (Intestinal Fluke)
Some Experts Recommend: 75 mg/kg/day orally in 3 divided doses
Duration of therapy: 1 day
Comments:
- Current guidelines should be consulted for additional information.
Usual Adult Dose for Heterophyes heterophyes (Intestinal Fluke)
Some Experts Recommend: 75 mg/kg/day orally in 3 divided doses
Duration of therapy: 1 day
Comments:
- Current guidelines should be consulted for additional information.
Usual Adult Dose for Metagonimus yokogawai (Intestinal Fluke)
Some Experts Recommend: 75 mg/kg/day orally in 3 divided doses
Duration of therapy: 1 day
Comments:
- Current guidelines should be consulted for additional information.
Usual Adult Dose for Nanophyetus salmincola
Some Experts Recommend: 60 mg/kg/day orally in 3 divided doses
Duration of therapy: 1 day
Comments:
- Current guidelines should be consulted for additional information.
Usual Adult Dose for Paragonimus westermani (Lung Fluke)
Some Experts Recommend: 25 mg/kg orally 3 times a day
Duration of therapy: 2 consecutive days
Comments:
- Current guidelines should be consulted for additional information.
Usual Adult Dose for Diphyllobothrium latum (Fish Tapeworm)
Some Experts Recommend: 5 to 10 mg/kg orally once
Comments:
- Current guidelines should be consulted for additional information.
Usual Adult Dose for Dipylidium caninum (Dog Tapeworm)
Some Experts Recommend: 5 to 10 mg/kg orally once
Comments:
- Current guidelines should be consulted for additional information.
Usual Adult Dose for Taenia saginata (beef tapeworm)
Some Experts Recommend: 5 to 10 mg/kg orally once
Comments:
- Current guidelines should be consulted for additional information.
Usual Adult Dose for Taenia solium (pork tapeworm)
Some Experts Recommend: 5 to 10 mg/kg orally once
Comments:
- Current guidelines should be consulted for additional information.
Usual Adult Dose for Hymenolepis nana (Dwarf Tapeworm)
Some Experts Recommend: 25 mg/kg orally once
Comments:
- Current guidelines should be consulted for additional information.
Usual Adult Dose for Cysticercus cellulosae (Cysticercosis)
Some Experts Recommend: 50 mg/kg/day orally
Duration of therapy: 15 days
Comments:
- Current guidelines should be consulted for additional information.
Usual Pediatric Dose for Schistosoma haematobium
1 year or older: 20 mg/kg orally 3 times a day
Duration of therapy: 1 day
Comments:
- Doses should be separated by 4 to 6 hours.
Use: For the treatment of schistosomiasis due to all species of Schistosoma (e.g., S mekongi, S japonicum, S mansoni, S haematobium)
Some Experts Recommend:
4 years or older:
- S haematobium, S mansoni: 40 mg/kg/day orally in 2 divided doses
- S japonicum, S mekongi, S intercalatum: 60 mg/kg/day orally in 3 divided doses
Comments:
- Current guidelines should be consulted for additional information.
Usual Pediatric Dose for Schistosoma japonicum
1 year or older: 20 mg/kg orally 3 times a day
Duration of therapy: 1 day
Comments:
- Doses should be separated by 4 to 6 hours.
Use: For the treatment of schistosomiasis due to all species of Schistosoma (e.g., S mekongi, S japonicum, S mansoni, S haematobium)
Some Experts Recommend:
4 years or older:
- S haematobium, S mansoni: 40 mg/kg/day orally in 2 divided doses
- S japonicum, S mekongi, S intercalatum: 60 mg/kg/day orally in 3 divided doses
Comments:
- Current guidelines should be consulted for additional information.
Usual Pediatric Dose for Schistosoma mansoni
1 year or older: 20 mg/kg orally 3 times a day
Duration of therapy: 1 day
Comments:
- Doses should be separated by 4 to 6 hours.
Use: For the treatment of schistosomiasis due to all species of Schistosoma (e.g., S mekongi, S japonicum, S mansoni, S haematobium)
Some Experts Recommend:
4 years or older:
- S haematobium, S mansoni: 40 mg/kg/day orally in 2 divided doses
- S japonicum, S mekongi, S intercalatum: 60 mg/kg/day orally in 3 divided doses
Comments:
- Current guidelines should be consulted for additional information.
Usual Pediatric Dose for Schistosoma mekongi
1 year or older: 20 mg/kg orally 3 times a day
Duration of therapy: 1 day
Comments:
- Doses should be separated by 4 to 6 hours.
Use: For the treatment of schistosomiasis due to all species of Schistosoma (e.g., S mekongi, S japonicum, S mansoni, S haematobium)
Some Experts Recommend:
4 years or older:
- S haematobium, S mansoni: 40 mg/kg/day orally in 2 divided doses
- S japonicum, S mekongi, S intercalatum: 60 mg/kg/day orally in 3 divided doses
Comments:
- Current guidelines should be consulted for additional information.
Usual Pediatric Dose for Opisthorchis viverrini (Liver Fluke)
1 year or older: 25 mg/kg orally 3 times a day
Duration of therapy: 1 day
Comments:
- Doses should be separated by 4 to 6 hours.
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 Clonorchis sinensis (Liver Fluke)
1 year or older: 25 mg/kg orally 3 times a day
Duration of therapy: 1 day
Comments:
- Doses should be separated by 4 to 6 hours.
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 Fasciolopsis buski (Intestinal Fluke)
Some Experts Recommend:
4 years or older: 75 mg/kg/day orally in 3 divided doses
Duration of therapy: 1 day
Comments:
- Current guidelines should be consulted for additional information.
Usual Pediatric Dose for Heterophyes heterophyes (Intestinal Fluke)
Some Experts Recommend:
4 years or older: 75 mg/kg/day orally in 3 divided doses
Duration of therapy: 1 day
Comments:
- Current guidelines should be consulted for additional information.
Usual Pediatric Dose for Metagonimus yokogawai (Intestinal Fluke)
Some Experts Recommend:
4 years or older: 75 mg/kg/day orally in 3 divided doses
Duration of therapy: 1 day
Comments:
- Current guidelines should be consulted for additional information.
Usual Pediatric Dose for Nanophyetus salmincola
Some Experts Recommend:
4 years or older: 60 mg/kg/day orally in 3 divided doses
Duration of therapy: 1 day
Comments:
- Current guidelines should be consulted for additional information.
Usual Pediatric Dose for Paragonimus westermani (Lung Fluke)
Some Experts Recommend:
4 years or older: 25 mg/kg orally 3 times a day
Duration of therapy: 2 consecutive days
Comments:
- Current guidelines should be consulted for additional information.
Usual Pediatric Dose for Diphyllobothrium latum (Fish Tapeworm)
Some Experts Recommend:
4 years or older: 5 to 10 mg/kg orally once
Comments:
- Current guidelines should be consulted for additional information.
Usual Pediatric Dose for Dipylidium caninum (Dog Tapeworm)
Some Experts Recommend:
4 years or older: 5 to 10 mg/kg orally once
Comments:
- Current guidelines should be consulted for additional information.
Usual Pediatric Dose for Taenia saginata (beef tapeworm)
Some Experts Recommend:
4 years or older: 5 to 10 mg/kg orally once
Comments:
- Current guidelines should be consulted for additional information.
Usual Pediatric Dose for Taenia solium (pork tapeworm)
Some Experts Recommend:
4 years or older: 5 to 10 mg/kg orally once
Comments:
- Current guidelines should be consulted for additional information.
Usual Pediatric Dose for Hymenolepis nana (Dwarf Tapeworm)
Some Experts Recommend:
4 years or older: 25 mg/kg orally once
Comments:
- Current guidelines should be consulted for additional information.
Usual Pediatric Dose for Cysticercus cellulosae (Cysticercosis)
Some Experts Recommend:
4 years or older: 50 mg/kg/day orally
Duration of therapy: 15 days
Comments:
- Current guidelines should be consulted for additional information.
Renal Dose Adjustments
No adjustment recommended.
Liver Dose Adjustments
Hepatosplenic schistosomiasis patients with moderate to severe liver dysfunction (Child-Pugh B and C): Usual dose should be used with caution.
Precautions
CONTRAINDICATIONS:
- Known hypersensitivity to the active component or any of the ingredients
- Ocular cysticercosis
- Coadministration with strong CYP450 inducers (e.g., rifampin)
Safety has not been established in patients younger than 1 year.
Consult WARNINGS section for additional precautions.
Dialysis
Data not available
Other Comments
Administration advice:
- Administer with water during meals.
- Swallow tablets or portions of tablets whole without chewing.
- To prevent choking in pediatric patients younger than 6 years, may crush or disintegrate tablets and mix with semi-solid food or liquid; use crushed/disintegrated tablets within 1 hour of mixing.
- The time interval between individual doses should not be less than 4 hours and not more than 6 hours.
Storage requirements:
- Store below 30C (86F).
General:
- When schistosomiasis or fluke infection is associated with cerebral cysticercosis, hospitalization of the patient for the duration of therapy is recommended.
- Tablets have 3 scores; each segment contains 150 mg of praziquantel. Portions are broken off by pressing the score with thumbnails; for 1/4 of a tablet, the portion from the outer end should be broken off.
Monitoring:
- Cardiovascular: Patients with cardiac arrhythmias (during therapy)
- General: For side effects in hepatosplenic schistosomiasis patients with moderate to severe liver dysfunction
Patient advice:
- Do not keep tablets or portions of tablets in your mouth; the bitter taste may cause gagging or vomiting.
- Do not drive or operate machinery on the day of and during the 24 hours after treatment; the drug may cause dizziness or drowsiness.
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