CAS Number 50-65-7 DrugBank DB06803 CAS ID 50-65-7 | PubChem CID 4477 Molar mass 327.119 g/mol | |
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Trade names Niclocide, Fenasal, Phenasal, others AHFS/Drugs.com Micromedex Detailed Consumer Information ATC code P02DA01 (WHO) QP52AG03 (WHO) | ||
Niclosamide, sold under the trade name Niclocide among others, is a medication used to treat tapeworm infestations. This includes diphyllobothriasis, hymenolepiasis, and taeniasis. It is not effective against other worms such as pinworms or roundworms. It is taken by mouth.
Contents
Side effects include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, constipation, and itchiness. It may be used during pregnancy and appears to be safe for the baby. Niclosamide is in the anthelmintic family of medications. It works by blocking the uptake of sugar.
Niclosamide was discovered in 1958. It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines, the most effective and safe medicines needed in a health system. The wholesale cost in the developing world is about 0.24 USD for a course of treatment. It is not commercially available in the United States. It is effective in a number of other animals.
Side effects
Side effects include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, constipation, and itchiness. Rarely, dizziness, skin rash, drowsiness, perianal itching, or an unpleasant taste occur. For some of these reasons, praziquantel is a preferable and equally effective treatment for tapeworm infestation.
Mechanism of action
Niclosamide inhibits glucose uptake, oxidative phosphorylation, and anaerobic metabolism in the tapeworm.
Research
Niclosamide, along with oxyclozanide, another anti-tapeworm drug, was found in a 2015 study to display "strong in vivo and in vitro activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)". A 2016 drug repurposing screening study suggested that niclosamide may inhibit Zika virus replication in vitro.
