What drugs are available to treat worms?

The drug groups are based on the parent classes to which the respective worms belong. Consequently, there are drugs that can be used in the group of plathelminthes for sucking (trematodes) and tapeworms (cestodes). And there are drugs for the nematodes in nemathelminth infections.

The main drugs used to treat nematodes are praziquantel, nicosamide, mebendazole and albendazole. They kill all the worms, this is also called vermicide. Another common feature of the active ingredients is that they must not be used during pregnancy and lactation or only if the mother’s life is acutely threatened if the therapy is not carried out.

Threadworms are characterized by their thread-like body structure and can move through muscles in a snaking fashion.At this point, the active ingredients against nematode infections, among other things, attack and lead to muscle paralysis in the worms. Mebendazole, albendazole, pyrantelembonate and pyrviniumemonate are used. This topic may also be of interest to you: Parasite cure

Which medications are available over the counter?

Some drugs containing the active ingredient pyrvinium are available without prescription. There are three drugs containing this active ingredient, which are available in different dosage forms. These include Molevac Dragees, which are used to treat pinworm infestation.

However, Molevac can only be used in children from 3 years of age and adolescents and adults. In addition to the coated tablets, there is also a Molevac suspension. In contrast to the dragees, the suspension can be used in children as young as one year of age.

Furthermore, there is the drug Pyrcon with the active ingredient Pyrvinium, which is also available as a suspension. Like Molevac, the area of application includes pinworm infestation. Furthermore, this suspension can also be used in children over one year of age, adolescents and adults. In addition to the active ingredient pyrvinium, there is also the drug Yomesan, which contains the active ingredient niclosamide. It is used for the treatment of infections with bovine, porcine and fish tapeworm together with a laxative drug.