Top 10 remedies for worms and how to take

Worm remedies, such as Albendazole and Mebendazole, are taken according to the doctor's recommendation, if worms are detected in tests or if this infection is suspected. Generally, treatment is done in a single dose, but schedules of 3, 5 or more days can also be indicated, which varies according to the type of medication or worm to be combated.

The presence of worms in the body, in addition to causing uncomfortable symptoms such as diarrhea, nausea, tiredness and abdominal pain, can cause serious changes in the body, such as anemia, weight loss, growth failure or even reaching important organs, such as the liver or the brain, for example, mainly in children and people with weakened immunity.

Thus, performing stool examinations or taking vermifuge medicines according to medical advice, especially when living in areas with a higher risk of contamination, can be a good strategy to protect yourself from these complications. The main remedies used and their action for each type of the most common worms are:

1. Albendazole

Albendazole is a widely used medicine, as it fights most intestinal parasites, such as Ascariasis, Trichocephaliasis, Enterobiasis (oxyuriasis), Hookworm, Strongyloidiasis, Teniasis and Giardiasis. Its action consists of degenerating the structures of cells and tissues of worms and protozoa, causing the death of these parasites.

How to use: generally, the dose used of Albendazole is 400 mg, in a single dose, for the treatment of adults and children over 2 years, according to the package leaflet. However, in some cases, the use may be advised by the doctor for more days, such as for 3 days in cases of Strongyloidiasis and Teniasis, and for 5 days in cases of Giardiasis, for example.

Most common side effects: abdominal pain, headache, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, hives and elevations in the levels of some liver enzymes.

2. Mebendazole

This medication is used to treat many types of worms, as it destroys the functions of the cells responsible for the energy of the parasites, causing the death of worms that cause diseases such as Enterobiasis (oxyuriasis), Ascariasis, Trichocephaliasis, Echinococcosis, Hookworm and Teniasis.

How to use: the recommended dose, according to the package insert, is 100 mg, twice a day, for 3 days, or as directed by the doctor, for adults and children over 2 years. The dose to effectively treat Teniasis in adults, can be 200 mg, twice a day, for 3 days.

Most common side effects: headache, dizziness, hair loss, abdominal discomfort, fever, redness of the skin, changes in blood cells and elevations in liver enzyme levels.

3. Nitazoxanide

Also known by the trade name Annita, this medicine is one of the most efficient in combating various types of worms and protozoa, as it acts by inhibiting the enzymes of the cells essential to the life of the parasites, among them Enterobiasis (oxyuriasis), Ascariasis, Strongyloidiasis, Hookworm disease, Trichocephaliasis, Teniasis and Himenolepiasis, Amebiasis, Giardiasis, Cryptosporidiasis, Blastocytosis, Balantidiasis and Isosporiasis.

How to use: its use is usually made with the dose of 500mg, every 12 hours, for 3 days. The dose in children over 1 year old is 0.375 ml (7.5 mg) of the oral solution per kg of weight, every 12 hours, for 3 days, as stated on the package insert, or following the doctor's instructions.

Most common side effects: greenish urine, abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, headache, elevated liver enzyme levels and anemia.

4. Piperazine

It is a useful dewormer for the treatment of Ascariasis and Enterobiasis (oxyuriasis), and acts by blocking the muscle response of the worms, causing paralysis, so they can be eliminated while still alive by the body.

How to use: the recommended dose of this medication is guided by the doctor, and, according to the package insert, to treat Enterobiasis is 65 mg per kg of weight, per day, for 7 days, for adults and children. In the case of Ascariasis, the dose is 3.5 g, for 2 days, for adults and 75 mg per kg of weight, for 2 days, for children.

Most common side effects: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, redness, hives and dizziness.

5. Pirantel

It is an anti-parasitic that also works by paralyzing worms, which are expelled alive by bowel movements, useful to fight infections such as hookworm, ascariasis and enterobiasis (oxyuriasis).

How to use: the dose recommended by the package leaflet is 11 mg per kg of weight, with a maximum dose of 1 g, in a single dose, for adults and children, and the treatment can be repeated after 2 weeks to ensure the treatment of Enterobiasis.

Most common side effects: lack of appetite, cramping and abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, drowsiness and headache.

6. Ivermectin

Ivermectin is very useful for the treatment of larvae that cause Strongyloidiasis, Onchocerciasis, Filariasis, Scabies and Pediculosis, which are lice, and kills these parasites by altering the structure of your muscle and nerve cells.

How to use: according to the package leaflet, the recommended dose of this medication is 200 mcg per kg of weight, once a day, or should be used according to medical advice, for adults and children over 15 kg in weight.

Most common side effects: diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, weakness, abdominal pain, poor appetite, constipation, dizziness, drowsiness, tremor, hives.

7. Thiabendazole

It is also a useful medicine in the elimination of larvae, being used to treat Strongyloidiasis, Cutaneous Larva migrans and Visceral Larva migrans (toxocariasis), as it inhibits the enzymes of the worms cells causing their death.

How to use it: the recommended dose may vary according to the medical indication, but the dose is usually 50 mg for each kg of weight (maximum 3 g), single dose, for adults and children, and several days of treatment may be necessary to eliminate visceral Larva migrans.

Most common side effects: nausea, vomiting, dry mouth, diarrhea, weight loss, stomach pain, abdominal pain, tiredness and dizziness.

8. Secnidazole

Secnidazole is a drug that interferes with the DNA of protozoa, causing their death, and is widely used for the treatment of amoebiasis and giardiasis.

How to use: the recommended dose of this medication is 2 g, a single dose, or according to medical advice, for adults. For children, the dose is 30 mg per kg of weight, without exceeding the maximum dose of 2 g. This remedy should be taken with a little liquid, preferably after dinner.

Most common side effects: nausea, stomach pain, altered taste, with metallic taste, inflammation of the tongue and mucous membrane of the mouth, decreased number of white blood cells, dizziness.

9. Metronidazole

It is a useful antibiotic for several types of bacteria, however, it has a great action against protozoa that cause intestinal diseases like Amebiasis and Giardiasis, acting by interfering in the DNA of bacteria and protozoa, causing their death. In addition, it is also widely used for other types of protozoal infections, such as vaginal infections by Gardnerella vaginalis and Trichomoniasis.

How to use: according to the package insert, the recommended use to treat Giardiasis is 250 mg, 3 times a day, for 5 days, while to treat Amebiasis, it is recommended to take 500 mg, 4 times a day, for 5 days 10 days, which should be guided by the doctor.

Most common side effects: abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, oral mucositis, changes in taste such as metallic taste, dizziness, headache, hives.

10. Praziquantel

It is an antiparasitic that serves to treat infections like Schistosomiasis, Teniasis and Cysticercosis, acting to cause paralysis of the worm, which is then killed by the body's immunity action.

How to use: to treat schistosomiasis in adults and children over 4 years, 2 doses of 20 mg per kg of weight are advised in a single day. In order to treat Teniasis, it is recommended 5 to 10 mg per kg of weight, in a single dose and for Cysticercosis, 50 mg / kg per day, divided into 3 daily doses, for 14 days, according to the package insert.

Most common side effects: abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, headache, dizziness, weakness and hives.

In some cases, it is also possible that the dose and the number of days of use of the aforementioned drugs vary, according to the medical indication, if there are particularities in the treatment of each person, such as the existence of impaired immunity, as in cases of people AIDS, or if the infection by the worms is more serious, as in cases of hyperinfections or infections of organs outside the intestine, for example.

Who should not use

In general, remedies for worms should not be used by children under 2 years of age, pregnant women and breastfeeding women, except under medical advice. You should read the package insert carefully, because each drug may have different contraindications.

Home remedy for worms

There are options for natural remedies that can help fight worms, however they should never replace the treatment guided by the doctor, being only complementary options.

Some examples are eating pumpkin seeds, papaya seeds or having a peppermint drink with milk, for example, but there is no scientific evidence of the effectiveness of these home remedies for treatment. Check out information on home remedy options for worms.

How to avoid getting contaminated again

Worms can always be around, in untreated water, on the ground and even in food that has not been washed well. So, to protect from worms infection, it is important to follow some tips like:

• Keep your hands sanitized, washing them with soap and water, after using toilets or visiting public places; Avoid biting nails; Avoid walking barefoot, especially on dirt and mud floors; Do not drink water that is not properly filtered or boiled; Wash and sanitize salads and fruits before eating. See a simple way to wash your vegetables thoroughly before eating.

See also other options of what to do to treat and how to protect yourself from worms, in the following video: