Thiabendazole Dosage

Usual Adult Dose for Angiostrongylosis

25 mg/kg (up to 1 g) orally 2 to 3 times a day for 3 days.

The recommended maximum daily dose is 3000 mg.

Usual Adult Dose for Capillariasis

25 mg/kg (up to 3 g) orally once a day for 30 days.

The recommended maximum daily dose is 3000 mg.

Usual Adult Dose for Ascariasis

orally 2 times a day for 2 successive days. Alternatively, a single dose of 20 mg/lbs (50 mg/kg) may be used.

Dosage calculated using patient's weight:

If 30 lbs, give 250 mg
If 50 lbs, give 500 mg
If 75 lbs, give 750 mg
If 100 lbs, give 1000 mg
If 125 lbs, give 1250 mg
If greater than or equal to 150 lbs, give 1500 mg

The recommended maximum daily dose is 3000 mg.

Usual Adult Dose for Hookworm Infection (Necator or Ancylostoma)

orally 2 times a day for 2 successive days. Alternatively, a single dose of 20 mg/lbs (50 mg/kg) may be used.

Dosage calculated using patient's weight:

If 30 lbs, give 250 mg
If 50 lbs, give 500 mg
If 75 lbs, give 750 mg
If 100 lbs, give 1000 mg
If 125 lbs, give 1250 mg
If greater than or equal to 150 lbs, give 1500 mg

The recommended maximum daily dose is 3000 mg.

Usual Adult Dose for Strongyloidiasis

orally 2 times a day for 2 successive days. Alternatively, a single dose of 20 mg/lbs (50 mg/kg) may be used.

Dosage calculated using patient's weight:

If 30 lbs, give 250 mg
If 50 lbs, give 500 mg
If 75 lbs, give 750 mg
If 100 lbs, give 1000 mg
If 125 lbs, give 1250 mg
If greater than or equal to 150 lbs, give 1500 mg

The recommended maximum daily dose is 3000 mg.

Usual Adult Dose for Whipworm Infection (Trichuris trichiura)

orally 2 times a day for 2 successive days. Alternatively, a single dose of 20 mg/lbs (50 mg/kg) may be used.

Dosage calculated using patient's weight:

If 30 lbs, give 250 mg
If 50 lbs, give 500 mg
If 75 lbs, give 750 mg
If 100 lbs, give 1000 mg
If 125 lbs, give 1250 mg
If greater than or equal to 150 lbs, give 1500 mg

The recommended maximum daily dose is 3000 mg.

Usual Adult Dose for Cutaneous Larva Migrans

orally 2 times a day for 2 successive days. A second dose is recommended if active lesions are still present 2 days after completion of therapy.

Dosage calculated using patient's weight:

If 30 lbs, give 250 mg
If 50 lbs, give 500 mg
If 75 lbs, give 750 mg
If 100 lbs, give 1000 mg
If 125 lbs, give 1250 mg
If greater than or equal to 150 lbs, give 1500 mg

The recommended maximum daily dose is 3000 mg.

Usual Adult Dose for Dracunculiasis

25 to 37.5 mg/kg (up to 1.5 g) orally 2 times a day for 3 days.

The recommended maximum daily dose is 3000 mg.

Usual Adult Dose for Visceral Larva Migrans (Toxicariasis)

orally 2 times a day for 7 successive days.

Dosage calculated using patient's weight:

If 30 lbs, give 250 mg
If 50 lbs, give 500 mg
If 75 lbs, give 750 mg
If 100 lbs, give 1000 mg
If 125 lbs, give 1250 mg
If greater than or equal to 150 lbs, give 1500 mg

The recommended maximum daily dose is 3000 mg.

Usual Adult Dose for Trichostrongylosis

25 mg/kg (up to 1.5 g) orally 2 times a day for 2 days.

The recommended maximum daily dose is 3000 mg.

Usual Adult Dose for Trichinosis

two doses per day for 2 to 4 days, depending on patient's response.

Dosage calculated using patient's weight:

If 30 lbs, give 250 mg
If 50 lbs, give 500 mg
If 75 lbs, give 750 mg
If 100 lbs, give 1000 mg
If 125 lbs, give 1250 mg
If greater than or equal to 150 lbs, give 1500 mg

The recommended maximum daily dose is 3000 mg.

Usual Pediatric Dose for Angiostrongylosis

Greater than or equal to 2 years: 25 mg/kg (up to 1 g) orally 3 times a day for 3 days.

Usual Pediatric Dose for Capillariasis

Greater than or equal to 2 years: 25 mg/kg (up to 3 g) orally once a day for 30 days.

Usual Pediatric Dose for Strongyloidiasis

orally 2 times a day for 2 successive days. Alternatively, a single dose of 50 mg/kg (20 mg/lb) may be used.

Dosage calculated using patient's weight:

If 30 lbs, give 250 mg
If 50 lbs, give 500 mg
If 75 lbs, give 750 mg
If 100 lbs, give 1000 mg
If 125 lbs, give 1250 mg
If greater than or equal to 150 lbs, give 1500 mg

The recommended maximum daily dose is 3000 mg.

Usual Pediatric Dose for Dracunculiasis

Greater than or equal to 2 years: 25 to 37.5 mg/kg (up to 1.5 g) orally 2 times a day for 3 days.

Usual Pediatric Dose for Visceral Larva Migrans (Toxicariasis)

orally 2 times a day for 7 successive days.

Dosage calculated using patient's weight:

If 30 lbs, give 250 mg
If 50 lbs, give 500 mg
If 75 lbs, give 750 mg
If 100 lbs, give 1000 mg
If 125 lbs, give 1250 mg
If greater than or equal to 150 lbs, give 1500 mg

The recommended maximum daily dose is 3000 mg.

Usual Pediatric Dose for Trichostrongylosis

Greater than or equal to 2 years: 25 mg/kg (up to 1.5 g) orally 2 times a day for 2 days.

Usual Pediatric Dose for Cutaneous Larva Migrans

orally 2 times a day for 2 successive days. A second dose is recommended if active lesions are still present 2 days after completion of therapy.

Dosage calculated using patient's weight:

If 30 lbs, give 250 mg
If 50 lbs, give 500 mg
If 75 lbs, give 750 mg
If 100 lbs, give 1000 mg
If 125 lbs, give 1250 mg
If greater than or equal to 150 lbs, give 1500 mg

The recommended maximum daily dose is 3000 mg.

Usual Pediatric Dose for Trichinosis

two doses per day for 2 to 4 days, depending on patient's response.

Dosage calculated using patient's weight:

If 30 lbs, give 250 mg
If 50 lbs, give 500 mg
If 75 lbs, give 750 mg
If 100 lbs, give 1000 mg
If 125 lbs, give 1250 mg
If greater than or equal to 150 lbs, give 1500 mg

The recommended maximum daily dose is 3000 mg.

Renal Dose Adjustments

Data not available

Liver Dose Adjustments

Data not available

Precautions

Thiabendazole should not be used as a prophylactic therapy for pinworm infestation.

If hypersensitivity reactions occur, thiabendazole should be discontinued immediately and not be resumed. Severe cases of erythema multiforme (Stevens-Johnson syndrome) resulting in death have been associated with thiabendazole therapy.

Patients receiving thiabendazole should avoid activities requiring mental alertness because of the high incidence of central nervous system side effects.

Jaundice, cholestasis, and parenchymal liver damage have been reported, leading in rare cases to irreversible hepatic failure.

Abnormal sensation in eyes, xanthopsia, blurred vision, drying of mucous membranes, and Sicca syndrome have been reported with thiabendazole treatment; some of the side effects of the eye remained present for over one year.

Thiabendazole should not be used as first line therapy in enterobiasis infections. It should be reserved for use in patients who have experienced allergic reactions, or resistance to other drug therapies.

Thiabendazole is not suitable for the treatment of mixed infections with ascaris because it may cause these worms to migrate.

The manufacturer recommends the initiation of supportive therapy for anemic, dehydrated or malnourished patients prior to the start of anthelmintic therapy.

Patients with hepatic or renal dysfunction should be closely monitored. Although rare, a transient rise in liver function tests has been reported in patients receiving thiabendazole.

The manufacturer warns that a higher incidence of side effects should be expected when using single doses of 50 mg/kg.

Clinical studies of thiabendazole did not include sufficient numbers of patients aged 65 and over to determine whether they respond differently from young patients. Other reported clinical experience has not identified differences in responses between elderly and younger patients. In general, dose selection for elderly patients should be cautious, usually starting at the low end of the dosing range, reflecting the greater frequency of decreased hepatic, renal, or cardiac function, and of concomitant disease or other drug therapy. This drug is metabolized almost entirely by the liver, and the metabolites are known to be substantially excreted by the kidney, therefore the risk of toxicity may be greater in patients with impaired renal function. Since elderly patients are more likely to have decreased renal function, care should be taken in dose selection, and it may be useful to monitor renal function.

The safety and efficacy of thiabendazole for the treatment of Strongyloidiasis, Ascariasis, Uncinariasis, Trichuriasis and Trichinosis in pediatric patients weighing less than 30 lbs has been limited.

Dialysis

As thiabendazole is not dialyzed by hemodialysis, no dosage supplementation following dialysis is necessary.

Other Comments

Thiabendazole should be chewed before swallowing, and taken after meals if possible.

See also:

Further information

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

Medical Disclaimer