Praziquantel

Conditions Treated

Praziquantel is used to treat infestations of schistosoma (a type of worm that lives in the bloodstream) and liver fluke (a type of worm that lives in or near the liver). Praziquantel is in a class of medications called anthelmintics. It works by killing the worms.

Possible Side Effects

What Side Effects Can This Cause?

Praziquantel may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

• not feeling well
• headache
• dizziness
• drowsiness
• excessive tiredness
• stomach pain
• nausea
• fever

Some side effects can be serious. If you experience the following symptom, call your doctor right away:

• hives

Praziquantel may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while taking this medication.If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online [at http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch] or by phone [1-800-332-1088].

Usage Instructions

How Should This Medication Be Used

Praziquantel comes as a tablet to take by mouth with water and a meal. It is usually taken for one day as 3 doses spaced 4 to 6 hours apart. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take praziquantel exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor. Praziquantel tablets are marked with 3 notches so that they can easily be split. If your doctor has told you to take only part of a tablet, use your thumbnail to press down on the correct notch and separate the number of segments needed. Swallow the tablets or tablet segments whole as soon as you put them into your mouth. Do not chew them, crush them, or hold them in your mouth. The bitter taste of the tablets may cause you to gag or vomit if you keep the tablets in your mouth before swallowing.

What Dietary Instructions Should I Follow

Talk to your doctor about eating grapefruit and drinking grapefruit juice while taking this medicine.

Are There Any Special Instructions

Before taking praziquantel, tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to praziquantel or any other medications. tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or plan to take. Be sure to mention any of the following: chloroquine (Aralen); cimetidine (Tagamet); dexamethasone; erythromycin (E.E.S., E-Mycin, Erythrocin); itraconazole (Sporanox); ketoconazole (Nizoral); certain medications for seizures such as phenytoin (Dilantin), phenobarbital, and carbamazepine (Equetro, Tegretol); and rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane). Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects. Many other medications may also interact with praziquantel, so be sure to tell your doctor about all the medications you are taking, even those that do not appear on this list. tell your doctor if you have ocular cysticercosis (infestation with a type of tapeworm that forms cysts in the eyes). Your doctor will probably tell you not to take praziquantel. tell your doctor if you have or have ever had seizures or liver, kidney, or heart disease. you should know that praziquantel may make you drowsy. Do not drive a car or operate machinery on the day you take praziquantel and the day after you take praziquantel.