Albendazole Adverse Reactions
- abdominal pain
- agranulocytosis
- alopecia
- anaphylactoid reactions
- diarrhea
- dizziness
- elevated hepatic enzymes
- fever
- headache
- increased intracranial pressure
- jaundice
- leukopenia
- nausea/vomiting
- pancytopenia
- renal failure (unspecified)
- Stevens-Johnson syndrome
- teratogenesis
- thrombocytopenia
- urticaria
Albendazole Adverse Reactions
Albendazole is generally well tolerated. Frequently reported adverse effects to albendazole in patients treated for hydatid disease and neurocysticercosis, respectively, are: elevated hepatic enzymes (15.6%, <1%), nausea/vomiting (3.7%, 6.2%), diarrhea, dizziness/vertigo (1.2%, <1%), headache (1.3%, 11%), and abdominal pain (6%, 0%). The incidence of these effects is positively correlated with dosage, length of treatment, and severity of infection. Less frequent side effects with albendazole include reversible alopecia (1.6%, <1%) and fever (<=1%).
Dermatologic and hypersensitivity reactions such as anaphylactoid reactions, rash (unspecified) and urticaria occur in <1% of patients given albendazole. Stevens-Johnson syndrome has been rarely reported.
Meningeal signs (1%) and increased intracranial pressure (1.5%) may occur from the use of albendazole for the treatment of neurocysticercosis; systemic corticosteroid therapy is coprescribed to prevent cerebral hypertensive episodes during the first week of treatment. An increase in CNS symptoms may result as the therapy produces destruction of the cysts within the CNS. Preventative antiepileptic therapy is employed.
Albendazole may cause a reduction in total white blood cell counts (< 1% of patients) due to bone marrow suppression; these effects are usually reversible. Leukopenia occurs in < 1% of patients, and results in discontinuation of therapy in 0.7% of patients. Granulocytopenia (e.g., neutropenia), pancytopenia, thrombocytopenia, and agranulocytosis have been reported but are rare in patients receiving albendazole. A CBC with differential should be performed prior to start of therapy and every 2 weeks during treatment.
As mentioned, albendazole therapy may result in elevated hepatic enzymes. Rarely, hepatic effects may progress and cause hepatotoxicity (e.g., jaundice, etc.). LFTs should be performed prior to start of therapy and every 2 weeks during treatment. Hepatic abnormalities requiring drug discontinuation occur in roughly 3.8% of patients with hydatid cyst disease. In most cases, liver toxicity is reversible upon drug discontinuation.
Acute renal failure (unspecified) related to albendazole therapy has been observed rarely.
Due to concerns regarding teratogenesis of benzimidazole antihelmintics, use during pregnancy is not recommended. There is little published human data regarding albendazole use in human pregnancy and some animal studies indicate a potential for embryotoxicity and malformation.
[ Last revised: 9/19/2003 6:42:00 AM ]
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