A number of pharmaceutical treatments are available to rid humans of unwelcome worm guests. These drugs are called anthelmintics — and this includes several different types of drug, each with different methods of killing worms. (Prior to the development of small-molecule pharmaceuticals, people used to eat tobacco, pineapple, and honey to rid the body of worms.)
Benzimidazoles are the largest and most versatile class of anthelmintics. This class of drugs starves the worms by cutting off their ability to absorb glucose. Benzimidazoles bind to the protein beta-tubulin, which disrupts any processes that make use of microtubules.
Albendazole is the MVP of this class of drug — it works against pinworms, hookworms, tapeworms, and a variety of other worm infections. The broad spectrum application and low cost of albendazole makes it a first-line defense against parasitic worms.
Ivermectin is an increasingly important drug used for treating parasitic infections. Ivermectin interferes with a parasite's neurotransmitters, paralyzing the invaders indiscriminately, and eventually leading to death.
Unfortunately, Ivermectin does not work against tapeworms, but the drug's method of action allows it to eliminate most intestinal worms, as well as external parasites like scabies and lice. Patients can also wait three months to a year between doses of ivermectin. The infrequent dosage and wide scale application of ivermectin make it the anthelmintic of choice for treatment of parasites in Third World countries.
Albendazole and ivermectin are only two of a legion of available anthelmintics. But just like antibiotic-resistant infections, we're starting to see parasites that have resistance to anthelmintics. That's why there's a wide variety of other drugs to fight parasitic worms. But any strategy for fighting parasites has to include more personal hygiene and sanitation, as well as dosing family members with anti-parasite drugs — as these worms tend to pass from family member to family member.
If none of these work, consult a doctor immediately, you do not want to wait this out for too long. If you do, you could have serious permanent damage.
Benzimidazoles are the largest and most versatile class of anthelmintics. This class of drugs starves the worms by cutting off their ability to absorb glucose. Benzimidazoles bind to the protein beta-tubulin, which disrupts any processes that make use of microtubules.
Albendazole is the MVP of this class of drug — it works against pinworms, hookworms, tapeworms, and a variety of other worm infections. The broad spectrum application and low cost of albendazole makes it a first-line defense against parasitic worms.
Ivermectin is an increasingly important drug used for treating parasitic infections. Ivermectin interferes with a parasite's neurotransmitters, paralyzing the invaders indiscriminately, and eventually leading to death.
Unfortunately, Ivermectin does not work against tapeworms, but the drug's method of action allows it to eliminate most intestinal worms, as well as external parasites like scabies and lice. Patients can also wait three months to a year between doses of ivermectin. The infrequent dosage and wide scale application of ivermectin make it the anthelmintic of choice for treatment of parasites in Third World countries.
Albendazole and ivermectin are only two of a legion of available anthelmintics. But just like antibiotic-resistant infections, we're starting to see parasites that have resistance to anthelmintics. That's why there's a wide variety of other drugs to fight parasitic worms. But any strategy for fighting parasites has to include more personal hygiene and sanitation, as well as dosing family members with anti-parasite drugs — as these worms tend to pass from family member to family member.
If none of these work, consult a doctor immediately, you do not want to wait this out for too long. If you do, you could have serious permanent damage.