Brand names: Niclocide (US, Miles), Bayluscide, Fenasal, Clonitralide, Phenasal, Yomesan
Target organisms: intestinal cestodes of genus Taenia, Diphyllobothrium, Hymenolepsis
The drug is effective against adult worms. For Taenia and Diphyllobothrium species, usually only 1 adult worm is present. In Hymenolepsis larval forms may be present, and it may take several days of therapy (usually a course of 7 days) to eliminate these.
The drug is available in 500 mg tablets.
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Patient
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Number of Tablets
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adult
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4
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child weighing > 34 kilograms
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3
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child weighing 11 - 34 kilograms
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2
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child weighing < 11 kilograms
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safety not established
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Administration:
(1) The pills should be carefully chewed prior to swallowing, usually with a small amount of water.
(2) The medicine is usually taken with a light meal to help reduce stomach upset.
(3) For small children, the pills should be ground to a powder and mixed to water to form a paste.
(4) If constipation is present, then a mild laxative may be given.
If the scolex is not passed within 2 hours, then a saline purgative can be given. The scolex will start to degenerate within a few hours of treatment.
Segments and/or ova may be present for up to 3 days after treatment. Presence of segments or ova at 7 days after therapy indicate failure. A second course of treatment can be given then.
A patient is not considered cured unless the stool has been negative for ova and segments for at least 3 months (Drug Facts, page 1497).
