Diethylcarbamazine Tablet Medically reviewed by Sanjay Gangani, B.Pharm, CMO & Pharmacist
Active Ingredient Diethylcarbamazine Indication Worm infections Manufacturer Actiza Pharmaceutical Pvt. Ltd. Packaging 10 x 10 Tablets / Box Strength:- 50 mg Dosage Form:- Tablet Country of Origin India
INQUIRE ABOUT Diethylcarbamazine Tablet
What are Diethylcarbamazine Tablets? Diethylcarbamazine is a prescription medicine for worm infections.
It targets filarial worms, which are spread by insect bites.
In India it is sold as 50 mg and 100 mg tablets.
The best known brand is Banocide, from GlaxoSmithKline.
Banocide is the 50 mg tablet and Banocide Forte the 100 mg.
The label lists these treatment uses:
Filarial infection caused by Wuchereria bancrofti.
Filarial infection caused by Loa loa.
Filarial infection caused by Brugia malayi or Brugia timori.
Tropical eosinophilia, a lung reaction to filarial worms.
Toxocariasis, an infection caught from dog or cat roundworms.
Lymphatic filariasis is the common use in India.
Untreated, it can cause the swelling known as elephantiasis.
The Banocide 50 & Banocide Forte 100 tablet is also used in mass treatment programmes.
How Diethylcarbamazine Works (Mechanism of Action) At least two effects on the larvae are described:
It reduces muscle activity, which immobilises the worm.
It alters the surface membrane of the larvae.
That makes them easier for the immune system to destroy.
It may also help white blood cells stick to the larvae.
Platelets may play a part in the effect as well.
It kills the microfilariae, the larvae circulating in blood.
It does this for every species it is licensed to treat.
It almost completely destroys adult Loa loa worms.
Its effect on other adult worms varies.
How the body handles it:
It is absorbed quickly from the gut.
Blood levels peak within one to two hours.
Its half-life is about 9 hours.
It is mostly passed out unchanged in the urine.
It crosses into the brain.
Dosage Guide All doses come from the Indian prescribing information.
Situation Dose Duration Key Note Lymphatic filariasis, adults Start 1 mg/kg on day one 12 to 14 days Raised over 2 to 3 days to 6 mg/kg daily That target dose 6 mg per kilogram daily Daily Preferably in divided doses Repeat course As above After at least 10 days Only if necessary Tropical eosinophilia 6 mg per kilogram daily 14 to 21 days Repeated if symptoms return Toxocariasis, adults Start 1 mg/kg twice daily 21 days Raised to 6 mg/kg daily in two doses Loiasis, adults Raised to 6 to 9 mg/kg daily 21 days Three divided doses; start very small Loiasis prevention 300 mg Once a week A preventive dose, not a treatment Children, filariasis under 10 Half the usual adult dose As prescribed Always under close supervision Children, loiasis 6 to 9 mg/kg daily 12 days Three divided doses, increased over 3 days Children, toxocariasis The same as adults As prescribed Always in divided daily doses Kidney impairment A reduced dose As prescribed The drug clears more slowly Liver impairment No reduction needed As prescribed Per the label
A point that matters in India:
A mainly vegetarian diet makes the urine alkaline.
The label gives a urine pH of about 7.5 to 8.
Alkaline urine makes the drug stay in the body longer.
A lower dose may then be needed.
It may cause nausea, vomiting, headache and dizziness .
It may cause drowsiness, and convulsions in serious cases.
Treatment includes plenty of fluids to keep urine flowing.
How to Take Diethylcarbamazine Take the tablets after meals, not on an empty stomach.
Take them at the times your doctor sets each day.
Follow the step-up schedule exactly as prescribed.
Do not jump straight to the full dose.
Finish the full course even if you feel better.
Do not double a dose if you miss one.
Report any reaction in the first days of treatment.
Attend any blood tests your doctor arranges.
What to expect early in treatment:
Fever, headache and aching are common in the first days.
Small lumps may appear under the skin from dying worms.
The label notes these can form along the spermatic cord.
Most of these reactions settle as treatment continues.
Your doctor may prescribe a steroid to reduce them.
It can cause drowsiness, so take care when driving.
Tell your doctor if you have a history of fits.
If you become acutely ill, recover before continuing.
Precautions Contraindications in the Label Allergy to diethylcarbamazine citrate or any ingredient.
Onchocerciasis, the infection known as river blindness.
The drug triggers severe skin and body-wide reactions there.
The label calls this a Mazzotti reaction.
It also causes reactions in the eyes.
Anyone possibly exposed in Africa should be assessed first.
Conditions Needing Special Care Loa loa infection, because of the risk to the brain.
A high level of larvae in the blood before treatment.
Any history of convulsions or seizures.
Kidney impairment, which needs a lower dose.
Any acute illness happening at the same time.
Galactose intolerance or lactase deficiency, as tablets contain lactose.
Treatment of children, which needs close supervision.
Pregnancy, Breastfeeding and Driving It should not be used during pregnancy.
The label advises postponing treatment until after delivery.
It is not recommended while breastfeeding.
No data exist on its passage into breast milk.
It may cause drowsiness that affects driving.
Before-Use Checklist Has a doctor confirmed which worm infection this is?
Has onchocerciasis been ruled out?
Has Loa loa infection been considered?
Do you know your step-up dosing schedule?
Do you know to take the tablets after meals?
Have you told your doctor about any seizures?
Do you have kidney problems?
Could you be pregnant?
Do you know which reactions to report?
Side Effects Frequencies come from the Indian label’s own table.
Side Effect Frequency What It Feels Like What to Do Headache Very common Head pain Report if severe Fever Very common Raised temperature Expected early; report if high Lumps under the skin Very common Small nodules from dead worms Expected; mention at review Inflamed blood vessels Very common Tender, reddened areas Report to your doctor Inflamed lymph vessels Common Red streaks, tender swelling Report to your doctor Dizziness or faintness Common Light-headedness Sit or lie down; take care driving Vomiting Common Being sick Report if persistent Protein in the urine Common No symptoms; found on testing Detected by urine tests Localised swelling Common Puffiness in one area Report to your doctor Nausea or loss of appetite Not known Queasiness, not wanting food Take tablets after meals Itching, rash or hives Not known Itchy or raised skin Report; may need a steroid Muscle or joint pain Not known Aching limbs and joints Report if troublesome Chills, rigors or malaise Not known Shivering and feeling unwell Expected early; report if severe Blood in the urine Not known Pink or red urine Seek medical advice Asthma attack Not known Wheeze and breathlessness Emergency — seek care Seizures Not known Fits, in those with epilepsy Emergency — seek care Brain inflammation Not known Confusion, drowsiness, coma Emergency — see Section 8
How side effects vary by infection:
Without a filarial infection, only nausea and vomiting occur.
That is at the recommended dose, per the label.
Bancroftian filariasis causes fewer and milder reactions.
Brugia and Loa loa infections cause stronger reactions.
Reactions from killing the larvae settle during treatment.
Drug Interactions The Indian label states there are no relevant data available.
That is not the same as saying no interaction exists.
It means the question has not been formally studied.
Tell your doctor about every medicine you take.
Anything that makes the urine more alkaline slows its removal.
A mainly vegetarian diet has that effect.
Making the urine more acidic speeds its removal.
It says to avoid alcohol and names liver and blood pressure medicines.
The manufacturer’s label records no interaction data at all.
This page therefore does not repeat those claims.
Emergency Warning Signs – Seek Urgent Medical Help Seek urgent help if the patient has:
Confusion, unusual drowsiness or loss of consciousness.
A fit or convulsion.
Severe or worsening headache with drowsiness.
Sudden wheeze or difficulty breathing.
Swelling of the face, lips or throat.
Widespread rash with fever.
Blood in the urine.
The label reports encephalopathy and coma with Loa loa infection.
These are rare, but deaths have been reported.
Risk is highest when many larvae are in the blood.
Gradual dosing and steroids reduce that risk.
Fever or aching becomes severe rather than settling.
Any eye symptom appears during treatment.
Why Choose Diethylcarbamazine? Benefits when clinically appropriate:
It is the established treatment for lymphatic filariasis.
It kills the larvae of every species it is licensed for.
It also destroys almost all adult Loa loa worms.
It treats tropical eosinophilia and toxocariasis as well.
It is taken as tablets, needing no injection.
It is very inexpensive, at under two rupees per tablet.
A 100 mg version is WHO-prequalified for mass treatment.
Honest balance for the buyer:
It must never be used in river blindness.
It can cause serious brain effects in Loa loa infection.
Early reactions from dying worms are common and unpleasant.
The dose must be built up gradually, not started at full strength.
Doses are weight-based, so self-dosing is unsafe.
It should not be used in pregnancy.
Storage Instructions Store at a temperature not exceeding 30°C.
Protect the tablets from moisture.
Keep them in the strip until use.
Keep out of the reach of children.
Check the expiry date before use.
Do not put unused tablets into wastewater.
Return them to a pharmacy take-back scheme.
Sanjay Gangani
B.Pharm, CMO & Pharmacist
Licensed pharmacist (B.Pharm) with 12+ years in clinical pharmacy and patient care. Reviews every article for evidence-based accuracy before it is published on ACTIZA Store.
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.