ANTI HELMINTHIC DRUGS

CLASSIFICATION: Chemotherapy of Nematodes : Ivermectin Mebendazole Albendazole Piperazine Tetramisole Diethyl carbamazine

citrate Pyrantel palmoate Thiabendazole

Chemotherapy of Trematodes : Praziquantel

Chemotherapy of Cestodes : Niclosamide

NEMATODES: Nematodes are elongated

round worms. It possess a complete digestive

system i.e, from mouth to anus. These nematodes can cause

infections of intestine, blood & tissues.

DRUGS USED FOR THE TREATMENT OF NEMATODES:

MEBENDAZOLE:

Pin worm (Enterobius vermicularis) Hook worm (Nectar americanus) Round worm (Ascariasis lumbricoides) Whip worm (Trichuris trichuria)

MECHANISM OF ACTION: Interfere with microtubules

synthesis will leads to stop the mitosis & also decreases the glucose uptake.

Affected parasites are expelled out from the faeces.

ADVERSE EFFECTS: Diahorrea. Abdominal pain.

CONTRA INDICATIONS: In pregnant woman, because it

shown to be embryotoxic & teratogenic in experimental animals.

IVERMECTIN:

It is the drug of choice which treats Onchoceriasis (river blindness) caused by Onchorea volvulus.

It is effective against scabies.

MECHANISM OF ACTION:Ivermectin TargetsGABA receptors of parasite

Chloride ion influx enhanced

Hyper polarization occurs

Paralysis of the worm

CONTRA INDICATIONS:

Patients with MENINGITIS Pregnancy The killing of microfilaria can

results in Mazotti like reaction

TREMATODES: These are the leaf shaped

flatworms. These are called as flukes. They are generally characterized

by the tissues they infect.Eg: Liver, lung, intestinal or blood

flukes.

DRUGS USED FOR THE TREATMENT OF TREMATODES:

PRAZIQUANTEL:

Trematode infections are generally treated with praziquantel.

It is a drug of choice to treat Schistosomiasis & cestode infections like Cysticercosis.

MECHANISM OF ACTION:

Permeability of the cell membrane to calcium ion is increased.

This leads to contraction and so paralysis of the parasite occurs.

ADVERSE EFFECTS : Dizziness GI Upset Malaise Anorexia Drowsiness

CONTRA INDICATIONS:

It is not used for pregnant woman. It is not used for the treatment of

Ocular cysticercosis since destruction of the organism in the eye may damage the organ.

CESTODES: These are flat, segmented body &

attach to host intestine. These are called as True

Tapeworms. Like Trematodes, the tapeworms

lack a mouth and digestive tract through out their life cycle.

DRUGS USED FOR THE TREATMENT OF CESTODES:NICLOSAMIDE:MECHANISM OF ACTION: It inhibits parasites mitochondrial

anaerobic phosphorylation of ADP and produces energy in the form of ATP.

This is lethal for the cestode’s scolex and segments of cestodes but not for the ova.

A laxative is administered prior to oral administration of Niclosamide.

This is done to purge the bowel of all dead segments in order to preclude the digestion & liberation of ova, leads to “Cysticercosis”.

Alcohol should be avoided within one day of Niclosamide.

THANK YOU…

ByKeerthi.Rangana