Praziquantel Dosage

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Mar 18, 2025.

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

Duration of therapy: 1 day

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

Duration of therapy: 1 day

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

Duration of therapy: 1 day

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

Duration of therapy: 1 day

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

Duration of therapy: 1 day

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

Duration of therapy: 1 day

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

Duration of therapy: 1 day

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

Duration of therapy: 1 day

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.

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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