Antihelminthic
Mebendazole
Brand names: Vermox, Ovex
Adult dose
Dose: Threadworm: 100mg single dose, repeat after 2 weeks. Hookworm/Ascaris/Trichuris: 100mg BD for 3 days
Route: PO
Frequency: single or BD
Paediatric dose
Route: PO
Frequency: single
Age bands
- 24–216m: 100mg single dose for threadworm
Children ≥6 months — same dose as adult
Clinical pearls
- Threadworm: treat whole household; emphasize hygiene measures
- Take with fatty meal for systemic absorption (e.g. hookworm)
Contraindications
- 1st trimester pregnancy
- Hypersensitivity
- Children <6 months (caution; use OTC ≥2y)
Side effects
- Mild GI upset
- Headache
- Hypersensitivity
- SJS/TEN (very rare)
Interactions
- Cimetidine (raised levels)
- Phenytoin/carbamazepine (reduced levels)
Reference: BNFc; BNF; NICE CKS; https://bnf.nice.org.uk/drugs/mebendazole/. Verify against your local formulary and the latest BNF before prescribing.
Related
Curated clinical cross-links plus same-class fallbacks.
Pathways
- Infective Endocarditis · ESC 2023 Infective Endocarditis Guidelines; NICE NG41
- Eczema Herpeticum · BAD; NICE CKS
- Suspected Bacterial Meningitis (Adult) · NICE NG240 (2024); NICE NG143 (paeds)
- Clostridioides difficile Colitis · NICE NG199 (2021); IDSA/SHEA 2021
- Returning Traveller — Fever · NaTHNaC; PHE; ESCMID 2018
- Malaria — Diagnosis & Management · PHE 2016; WHO 2023