We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Health

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What Is Praziquantel?

By C.B. Fox
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 12,560
Share

Praziquantel is a medication that kills certain types of parasitic worms that can infest human or animal hosts. It is often used in both human and veterinary medicine, though in some countries, it is only approved for use in animals. It is effective at treating worms in both humans and animals in those places where it has been approved for both.

Treatment with praziquantel is usually quick and extremely effective. Patients are prescribed the medication for only a day, with the complete dose divided up into three treatments. The medicine is taken orally and can be taken with food to decrease the severity of gastrointestinal side effects. Grapefruit should be avoided while taking this drug as it can increase the amount of medication absorbed by the body.

Schistosoma, which is a genus of flatworms, can be eliminated by treatment with praziquantel. Most worms in this genus are small and live in the blood stream or the liver after they are picked up from contaminated food or contact with contaminated water. Occasionally, this medication may be used to treat infestation with intestinal worms, such as tape worms, as well.

Patients with disease of the liver, kidneys, or heart should exercise caution when taking praziquantel. It may also have adverse effects on patients with a history of seizure. Children under the age of four should not take the drug. In healthy patients, side effects are usually mild and clear up soon after treatment. Patients can experience dizziness, confusion, and a general feeling of illness and fever. The cognitive effects, however, can occasionally be severe, and patients should be careful driving a car or operating machinery after taking the drug.

Though praziquantel should not be given to young children, it is considered safe for pregnant women. It can, however, be passed to a nursing baby through the breast milk. Nursing mothers are advised not to nurse their babies for 72 hours after the final dose of praziquantel is administered.

In veterinary medicine, praziquantel is frequently used to treat infestations of worms, including tapeworms, in dogs, cats, and other animals. Animals tolerate the medication well and do not usually show any side effects, though animals under the age of 6 weeks should not be given this drug. Medication intended for animals should not be used by human patients, even though the active ingredient, praziquantel, is the same in both treatments. Additives, dosage, and inactive ingredients, however, differ from animal medication to human medication.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
Share
https://www.wisegeek.net/what-is-praziquantel.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.