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Diethylcarbamazine
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Description
Diethylcarbamazine is an antiparasitic agent used for the prevention and treatment of worm infections which may cause severe swelling of the arms, legs, and genitals. It may also be used for the prevention and treatment of worm infections of the eye which may cause blindness and worm infections which may cause joint, connective tissue, nervous system, or breathing disorders. It is not recommended to prevent or treat the infections caused by pinworms and tapeworms.
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Side effects
Major & minor side effects for Diethylcarbamazine
Fever
Tender, swollen glands in the neck
Skin rash
Visual disturbances
Nausea
Dizziness
Uses of Diethylcarbamazine
What is it prescribed for?
Lymphatic Filariasis
Diethylcarbamazine is used in the prevention and treatment of Lympahtic filariasis caused by Wuchereria bancrofti, Brugia malayi and Brugia timori. This is a disease characterized by severe swelling of the arms, legs, or genitals.
Loiasis
Diethylcarbamazine is used in the prevention and treatment of Loiasis, a worm infection of the eyes caused by Loa loa which is transmitted through the bite of a deer fly or a mango fly.
Toxocariasis
Diethylcarbamazine is used in the prevention and treatment of Toxocariasis, a worm infection which may cause rheumatic, neurologic, and asthmatic symptoms, and rarely blindness.
Tropical pulmonary eosinophilia
Diethylcarbamazine is recommended as the primary treatment of Tropical pulmonary eosinophilia which is caused by Wuchereria bancrofti and characterized by a persistent cough that aggravates at night, weakness, low-grade fever, and enlarged spleen.
Concerns
Commonly asked questions
Onset of action
The amount of time required for this medicine to show its action is not clinically established.Duration of effect
There is no clinically established data available on the duration of action of Diethylcarbamazine.Safe with alcohol?
Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.Is it habit forming?
No habit forming tendencies were reported.Usage in pregnancy?
This medicine is not recommended for use in pregnant women. Your doctor will prescribe an alternative medicine based on your clinical condition.Usage while breast-feeding?
This medicine is not recommended for use in breastfeeding women. Your doctor will prescribe an alternative medicine based on your clinical condition.
Allergy
This medicine is not recommended for use in patients with a known allergy to Diethylcarbamazine.
Onchocerciasis (River blindness)
Patients being treated with Diethylcarbamazine for onchocerciasis may experience Mazzotti reaction which may be characterized by fever, headache, dizziness, vomiting, lymphangitis, or asthmatic attacks. These patients should be monitored closely and supportive care should be initiated based on the severity of the reaction.
Pediatric use
Children under 10 years of age should receive half the total adult dose. The use of this medicine is not recommended for children under 2 years of age.
Warnings for special population
Pregnancy
This medicine is not recommended for use in pregnant women. Your doctor will prescribe an alternative medicine based on your clinical condition.
Breast-feeding
This medicine is not recommended for use in breastfeeding women. Your doctor will prescribe an alternative medicine based on your clinical condition.
General warnings
Prolonged use
Prolonged use of Diethylcarbamazine may cause tunnel vision, night blindness, or loss of vision.
Renal impairement
For patients with kidney diseases or renal impairment, appropriate dose adjustments should be done to prevent adverse effects.
Use in severely ill patients
Do not use this medicine in severely ill patients with other acute diseases until their recovery.
Epilepsy
This medicine should be used with caution in patients with a history of epilepsy due to the increased risk of convulsions or seizures.
Cardiac disease
Use of this medicine is not recommended in patients with cardiac diseases due to the increased risk of severe side effects like tachycardia.
Other medicines
Report the active use of all other medicines including herbs and supplements to the doctor before receiving this medicine.
Missed Dose
If a dose of Diethylcarbamazine is missed, take the dose as soon as you remember it. If it is almost the time for the next dose, skip the missed dose. Do not double the dose to make up for the missed one.
Overdose
Seek emergency medical treatment or contact the doctor in case of an overdose.
All drugs interact differently for person to person. You should check all the possible interactions with your doctor before starting any medicine.
Interaction with Alcohol
Description
Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
Instructions
Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
Interaction with Medicine
Antimalarial drugs
Disease interactions
Disease
Information not available.
Food interactions
Information not available.
Lab interactions
Information not available.
Do not take more than what is prescribed or share this medication with other people. Complete the prescribed course of therapy. Do not stop the therapy before completion even if the symptoms improve or disappear.
Miscelleneous
How it works
Diethylcarbamazine acts on both the movement of the worms and the surface layer of the worms, making them easier to kill. The worms are then killed by the immune system of the body.
Legal Status
Classification
Category
Anthelmintics
Schedule
N/A
Diethylcarbamazine - DrugBank [Internet]. Drugbank.ca. 2017 [cited 19 July 2017]. Available from:
Carbamazepine and derivatives [Internet]. Snomedbrowser.com. 2017 [cited 19 July 2017]. Available from:
WHO Model Prescribing Information: Drugs Used in Parasitic Diseases - Second Edition: Helminths: Lymphatic filariasis: Diethylcarbamazine [Internet]. Apps.who.int. 2017 [cited 19 July 2017]. Available from:
WHOCC - ATC/DDD Index [Internet]. Whocc.no. 2017 [cited 19 July 2017]. Available from:
Information on this page was last updated on 27 Jul 2017
Disclaimer
We’ve made all possible efforts to ensure that the information provided here is accurate, up-to-date and complete, however, it should not be treated as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Practo only provides reference source for common information on medicines and does not guarantee its accuracy or exhaustiveness. The absence of a warning for any drug or combination thereof, should not be assumed to indicate that the drug or combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for any given patient. Practo does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information provided above. If you have any doubts about your medication then we strongly recommend that you consult with your doctor, nurse or healthcare provider. See detailed T&C here.