How and when to take mebendazole (2024)

Mebendazole comes as a banana flavour liquid and orange flavour tablets. Always follow the instructions that come with your medicine.

Dosage

A doctor or pharmacist will tell you how much mebendazole to take, depending on the type of worms you have.

If you have threadworms (also called pinworms) you'll usually take a single dose. If you live with anyone else, they will need to be treated at the same time because threadworms can spread easily.

A doctor or pharmacist may suggest you repeat the dose after 2 weeks to stop you from getting threadworms again. This is because the medicine kills the worms but not their eggs.

For other worms such as whipworm, roundworm and hookworm, follow your doctor's instructions on how to take mebendazole. Usually you need to take a dose 2 times a day for 3 days.

How to take it

Chew the tablet or swallow it whole with a drink of water, juice or milk. You can take it with or without food.

If you're taking the liquid, it comes with a plastic spoon to measure the dose. If you do not have a spoon, ask your pharmacist for one. Do not use a kitchen teaspoon as it will not measure the right amount.

If you forget to take it

If you're taking mebendazole 2 times a day and you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember, if it's within 4 hours of when the dose was due. If you remember more than 4 hours after your dose was due, skip the missed dose and just take your next dose at the usual time.

Do not take 2 doses to make up for a forgotten one.

If you take too much

Taking an extra dose of mebendazole is unlikely to harm you.

However, you may get side effects such as:

  • stomach cramps
  • feeling or being sick (nausea or vomiting)
  • diarrhoea

Urgent advice: Contact 111 for advice now if:

  • your child is under 2 years old and takes an extra dose of mebendazole
  • you've taken an extra dose of mebendazole and have side effects
  • you've taken more than 1 extra dose

Go to 111.nhs.uk or call 111. Call 111 if you're asking about a child under the age of 5 years.

If you need to go to A&E, take the mebendazole packet or leaflet inside it and any remaining medicine with you.

Page last reviewed: 4 August 2022
Next review due: 4 August 2025

How and when to take mebendazole (2024)

FAQs

How and when to take mebendazole? ›

Adults and children 2 years of age and older—100 milligrams (mg) two times a day, morning and evening, for 3 consecutive days. Treatment may need to be repeated in 3 weeks.

When is the best time to take mebendazole? ›

For other types of common worm infections (such as roundworm, hookworm), take mebendazole by mouth as directed by your doctor, usually twice a day (in the morning and in the evening) for 3 days. If necessary, a second treatment may be given in a few weeks.

How do you take mebendazole for deworming in adults? ›

Mebendazole can be taken as one of two ways, by chewing and swallowing directly or by crushing it to mix with food. The drug is only used for adults and children over 2 years old. Dosage of Mebendazole 100mg depends on the types of worms as follows: Roundworms: 100mg/time, taken 2 times/day and used for 5 days.

When is the best time to take worm medicine? ›

However, to avoid unwanted effects (although rare) such as abdominal pain, nausea, etc., users should drink it after breakfast. But if you want the drug to have the best effect of killing worms, it should be taken 2 hours after dinner or early in the morning on an empty stomach.

How long does it take for mebendazole to get rid of worms? ›

Key facts. You'll usually take mebendazole as a single dose to treat threadworms, but you might need to take it for around 3 days for some other types of worm infection. It starts to work straight away but it may take several days to kill all the worms.

Will I see worms in my stool after taking mebendazole? ›

Official answer. Yes, it is normal to see dead threadworms in the persons bowel motions. Depending on the frequency of bathroom visits this can take up to one week.

What not to eat during deworming? ›

Whether the patient eats or does not eat does not affect the effectiveness of deworming. Patients just need to be careful not to get too hungry before using the dewormer. After taking deworming medicine, about 8 - 12 hours the medicine will take effect.

What is the protocol for mebendazole? ›

For common roundworms, hookworms, and whipworms: Adults and children 2 years of age and older—100 milligrams (mg) two times a day, morning and evening, for 3 consecutive days. Treatment may need to be repeated in 3 weeks.

Which is better for adults albendazole or mebendazole? ›

Albendazole has an average rating of 7.4 out of 10 from a total of 9 ratings on Drugs.com. 86% of reviewers reported a positive effect, while 14% reported a negative effect. Mebendazole has an average rating of 3.3 out of 10 from a total of 8 ratings on Drugs.com.

What parasite does mebendazole treat? ›

Albendazole and mebendazole are most frequently prescribed for treatment of intestinal nematode infections (ascariasis, hookworm infections, trichuriasis, strongyloidiasis, and enterobiasis) and can also be used for intestinal tapeworm infections (taeniases and hymenolepiasis).

Why is dewormer taken at night? ›

The best time to take an albendazole tablet or syrup is at night because worms are generally more active during the night. It is always better to take Albendazole with a fatty meal (high-fat content) like milk, paneer, cheese, etc.

How do you know that your body needs deworming? ›

If you have intestinal parasites, you may have digestive symptoms, including abdominal pain and diarrhea. Untreated, worms may cause complications. Intestinal worms, also known as parasitic worms, are one of the main types of intestinal parasites in humans.

How soon do you see worms after deworming? ›

However, you might still find some worms in your puppy's stool up to a week after they've been dewormed.

Are worms still alive after mebendazole? ›

Mebendazole is between 90-100% effective at killing the threadworms, but they cannot kill the eggs. Strict hygiene measures should still be followed for two weeks after treatment (see above). You should see your GP if the infection persists after using medication.

What to do after taking mebendazole? ›

In some patients, infections may return after treatment with mebendazole. To help prevent the infection from coming back: Wash hands and fingernails often, especially before eating and after using the toilet. Wash all fruits and vegetables thoroughly.

Can worms become resistant to mebendazole? ›

spiralis larvae are resistant to mebendazole treatment.

Should mebendazole be taken with food or empty stomach? ›

You may take this medicine with or without food. Chew it completely before swallowing. Do not swallow the tablet whole. If you have trouble chewing the tablet, place it in a spoon and add 2 to 3 mL of drinking water by using a dosing syringe.

What can you not take with mebendazole? ›

Include all brand names and combination drug names.
  • carbamazepine.
  • cimetidine.
  • fosphenytoin.
  • metronidazole.
  • phenobarbital.
  • phenytoin.
  • primidone.
  • ritonavir.

Does mebendazole affect gut bacteria? ›

Gut microbiota diversity increased after Enterobius infection, and it peaked after administration of mebendazole. At the phylum level, pinworm infection and mebendazole deworming were associated with a decreased relative abundance of Fusobacteria and an increased proportion of Actinobacteria.

How often should you deworm yourself? ›

Worms are a very common source of illness for both adults and children, so experts recommend that deworming should be done two times a year, or every six months, beginning at the age of two years. Deworming is the process of eliminating intestinal parasites, such as worms, using medication.

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