Question

Develop a medication card for the prototype anthelmintic drug, mebendazole. Include therapeutic actions, indications, pharmacokinetics, contraindications, and common adverse reactions on the medication card. Compare and contrast mebendazole to other anthelmintics. Summarize the similarities and differences

Answer 1

Antihelmintic drugs are used to remove the disease causing parasites from the intestinal cavity of gastrointestinal tract.

Mebendazole belongs to the classification of antihelminthics

Therapeutic actions:

When the mebendazole is taken it goes and reaches the intestinal cells and the the tegument of the parasite which stops the polymerization.This polymerization or the formation of microtubules are very essential for glucose absorption. When this action is ceased the glycogen stores are depleted gradually leading to no glucose.Lavk of glucose leads to no ATP reacts a result there is no energy obtained by the parasite. When there is no supply of energy to the parasite it paralyzes and eventually dies.

Indications:

• Worm infestation (hookworm, roundworm, pinworms,whipworm, American hookworm etc.,)
• Trichinosis

Pharmacokinetics:

The medication has a half life of three to six hours metabolized in liver .The majority of the drug is eliminated via feces and about 2% by urine.

Contraindications:

• Pregnancy

Adverse reactions:

• Increased bowel movements
• Abdominal pain
• Hair loss
• Thrombocytopenia
• Leukopenia

Thus drug is comparatively effective with less adverse reactions and can be used as a broad spectrum antihelminthics.This drug should be given twice or thrice a year whereas the drugs like Albendazole is given twice a year or once in six months.Diethycarbamazine is used to treat filariasis, Abectin is used as insecticide and as an antihelminthics.Pyrantel can be used during pregnancy .Levsmisole can cause severe adverse reactions but effective in ascariasis.It is not preferred in pregnancy and breastfeeding. Nitaxozanide is used as both antiviral and anti parasitic and cannot be used with other drugs like warfarin.

In simple, these drugs has the mechanism to kill the causative organism by various actions.