Albendazole

*antiparasitic (benzimidazole)

Brands/Synonyms : Albenil, Albex, Ovispec, Valbazen

Therapeutics

Soundalike Alert : 

Fomepizole – ethylene glycol antidote

Fenbendazole – other benzimidazole antiparasitic

Available Formulations

Oral solution 113.6 mg/mL

Indications

*Giardiasis 

Dosage (Dog) 25 mg/kg PO q 12h, Duration 2 days (4 doses total)

Expected Effects Complete elimination of Giardia cysts from feces

*Filaroides hirthi

Dosage (Dog) 50 mg/kg PO q 12h,  Duration 5 days (10 doses total)

Expected Effects  Full elimination of F. hirthi from pups of treated dams (0% infected), vs. 84% infected pups of nontreated dams

*Trichinosis

Pretreatment with milbemycin oxime for 10 days provided minimal if any increase in efficacy

Dosage (DogCat) 50 mg/kg PO q 12h.  Duration 7 days

Expected Effects  Marked reduction in muscle larva burden

*Oslerus (formerly Filaroides) osleri

Dosage (Dog) 9.5 mg/kg PO q 24h  Duration 55 days

Expected Effects

Resolution of clinical signs after 30 days of treatment

Bronchial nodules may persist

*Paragonimiasis

Dosage (Cat) 50-100 mg/kg PO q 24h ,Duration 14-21 days

Expected Effects

Elimination of Paragonimus ova in feces 9 days after start of treatment

Elimination of live flukes from lungs 4-5 weeks after start of treatment

Precautions

Contraindications:  Hypersensitivity to the drug, Neutropenia, Thrombocytopenia, Nonregenerative anemia

Adverse Side Effects : Myelotoxicosis/bone marrow toxicosis described as dose-related (dog) or idiosyncratic (cat) in single case reports - appears to be rare

Teratogenicity/Pregnancy/Lactation : Has teratogenic potential

Pearls

Giardiasis: fenbendazole appears safer and equally effective compared to albendazole

Trichinosis: albendazole treatment seems more effective in dogs than cats

Oslerus (Filaroides) osleri treatment protocol (55 days) is expected to cause bone marrow toxicosis

References PubMed – 9187723