Routes ofadministration by mouth Biological half-life 22–24 hs Formula C14H9Cl3N2OS | CAS ID 68786-66-3 Trade name Fasinex, Egaten, others | |
Trade names Fasinex, Egaten, others AHFS/Drugs.com International Drug Names ATC code P02BX04 (WHO) QP52AC01 (WHO) Metabolism Excretion Feces (>95%), urine (2%), milk (<1%) | ||
Triclabendazole, sold under the brand name Egaten among others, is a medication used to treat liver flukes, specifically fascioliasis and paragonimiasis. It is very effective for both conditions. Treatment in hospital may be required. It is taken by mouth with typically one or two doses being required.
Contents
Side effects are generally few, but can include abdominal pain and headaches. Biliary colic may occur due to dying worms. While no harms have been found with use during pregnancy, triclabendazole has not been well studied in this population. It is a member of the benzimidazole family of medications for worms.
It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines, the most effective and safe medicines needed in a health system. It is not commercially available in the United States. For human use it can be gotten from the World Health Organization. It is also used in other animals.
Chemistry
It is a member of the benzimidazole family of anthelmintics. The benzimidazole drugs share a common molecular structure, triclabendazole being the exception in having a chlorinated benzene ring but no carbamate group. Benzimidazoles such as triclabendazole are generally accepted to bind to beta-tubulin and prevent the polymerization of the microtubules of which they are part.
History
Since late 1990s, triclabendazole became available as a generic drug, as patents expired in many countries. Many products were developed then. Among them, Trivantel 15, a 15% triclabendazole suspension, was launched by Agrovet Market Animal Health in the early 2000s. In 2009, the first triclabendazole injectable solution (combined with ivermectin) was developed and launched, also by Agrovet Market Animal Health. The product, Fasiject Plus, a triclabendazole 36% and ivermectin 0.6% solution, is designed to treat infections by Fasciola hepatica (both immature and adult liver flukes), roundworms and ectoparasites, as well.
Fasinex is a brandname for veterinary use while Egaten is a brandname for human use.
