ZENTEL (Albendazole) PRODUCT INFORMATION

DESCRIPTION
ZENTEL contains albendazole, which is methyl [5-(propylthio)-1H-benzimidazol-2-yl] carbamate.
It is a member of the benzimidazole group of anthelmintic agents.

Albendazole is a white to off-white, odourless or almost odourless powder, which is practically

insoluble in water and slightly soluble in methanol, chloroform, ethyl acetate and acetonitrile. Its
molecular weight is 265.33.

PHARMACOLOGY
ZENTEL (albendazole) is a broad-spectrum anthelmintic, which is highly effective against a wide
range of intestinal helminths. ZENTEL is also effective against tissue helminth infections, such as
cutaneous larva migrans (see INDICATIONS).
Albendazole therapy has also been used in the high dose, long term treatment of tissue helminth
infections including hydatid cysts and cysticercosis.
The antihelminthic action of albendazole is thought to be mainly intra-intestinal. However, at
higher albendazole doses, sufficient is absorbed and metabolised to the active sulphoxide
metabolite, to have a therapeutic effect against tissue parasites.
Albendazole exhibits larvicidal, ovicidal and vermicidal activity, and is thought to act via inhibition
of tubulin polymerization.

This causes a cascade of metabolic disruption, including energy

depletion, which immobilizes and then kills the susceptible helminth.

Pharmacokinetics
In man, the full extent of albendazole absorption following oral administration has not been
established. However, it is known that albendazole is poorly absorbed with most of an oral dose
remaining in the gastrointestinal tract. The poor absorption is believed to be due to the low aqueous
solubility of albendazole.

Absorption is significantly enhanced (approximately 5 fold) if

albendazole is administered with a fatty meal.

Albendazole rapidly undergoes extensive first-pass metabolism in the liver, and is generally not
detected in plasma. Albendazole sulphoxide is the primary metabolite, which is thought to be the
active moiety in effectiveness against systemic tissue infections.

The plasma half life of

albendazole sulphoxide is 8 hours. Albendazole sulphoxide and its metabolites appear to be

principally eliminated in bile, with only a small proportion appearing in the urine.

INDICATIONS
Single dose or short term courses of ZENTEL are indicated in the treatment of single or mixed
infestations of intestinal and tissue parasites, in adults and children over 2 years of age.
Clinical studies have shown ZENTEL to be effective in the treatment of infections caused by:

Enterobius

vermicularis

(pinworm/threadworm),

Ascaris

lumbricoides

(roundworm),

Ancylostoma duodenale and Necator americanus (hookworms), Trichuris trichiura

(whipworm), Strongyloides stercoralis, animal hookworm larvae causing cutaneous larva
migrans, and the liver flukes Opisthorchis viverrini and Clonorchis sinensis.
ZENTEL is also indicated for the treatment of Hymenolepis nana and Taenia spp. (tapeworm)
infections, when other susceptible helminths species are present. Treatment courses should be
extended to 3 days (see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS).

CONTRAINDICATIONS
ZENTEL should not be administered during pregnancy or in women thought to be pregnant.
ZENTEL has been shown to be teratogenic and embryotoxic in rats and rabbits.

Women of

childbearing age should be advised to take effective precautions against conception during and
within one month of completion of treatment with ZENTEL (see Use in Pregnancy, Category D).

ZENTEL is contraindicated in persons who are known to be hypersensitive to albendazole, other

benzimidazole derivatives, or any component of the tablets.

PRECAUTIONS
Use in Systemic Helminth Infections (longer duration of treatment at higher doses)
Mild to moderate elevations of liver enzymes have been reported with albendazole. In prolonged
higher dose albendazole therapy for hydatid disease there have been rare reports of severe hepatic
abnormalities associated with jaundice and histological hepatocelluler damage, which may be
irreversible. Enzyme abnormalities usually normalise on discontinuation of treatment.
Patients with abnormal liver function test results (transaminases) prior to commencing albendazole
therapy should be carefully evaluated and therapy should be discontinued if liver enzymes are
significantly increased (greater than twice the upper limit of normal) or full blood count decreased
by a clinically significant level (see Adverse Reactions). Albendazole treatment may be restarted
when liver enzymes have returned to normal limits, but patients should be carefully monitored for a
recurrence.
Case reports of hepatitis have also been received (see Adverse Reactions). Liver function tests
should be obtained before the start of each treatment cycle and at least every two weeks during
treatment.
Albendazole has been shown to cause bone marrow suppression and therefore blood counts should
be performed at the start and every two weeks during each 28 day cycle. Patients with liver disease,
including hepatic echinococcosis, appear to be more susceptible to bone marrow suppression
leading to pancytopenia, aplastic anaemia, agranulocytosis and leukopenia and therefore warrant
closer monitoring of blood counts. Albendazole should be discontinued if clinically significant
decreases in blood cell counts occur.
Symptoms associated with an inflammatory reaction following death of the parasite may occur in
patients receiving albendazole treatment for neurocysticercosis (e.g. seizures, raised intracranial
pressure, focal signs). These should be treated with appropriate steroid and anticonvulsant therapy.
Oral or intravenous corticosteroids are recommended to prevent cerebral hypertensive episodes
during the first week of treatment.
Pre-existing neurocysticercosis may also be uncovered in patients treated with albendazole for other
conditions, particularly in areas with high taenosis infection. Patients may experience neurological
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symptoms e.g. seizures, increased intracranial pressure and focal signs as a result of an
inflammatory reaction caused by death of the parasite within the brain. Symptoms may occur soon
after treatment, appropriate steroid and anticonvulsant therapy should be started immediately.
There is a risk that treatment of Taenia solium infections may be complicated by cysticercosis, and
appropriate measures should be taken to minimise this possibility.
Confirmation of eradication of many intestinal and tissue parasites is necessary after treatment. (see
DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION)
Use in Impaired Renal or Hepatic Function
The use of ZENTEL in patients with impaired renal or hepatic function has not been studied.
However, caution should be used in patients with pre-existing liver disease, since ZENTEL is
metabolised by the liver and has been associated with idiosyncratic hepatotoxicity.
Use In Children
There is limited experience with ZENTEL in children under 2 years of age, therefore use in this age
group is not recommended.
Carcinogenicity and Mutagenicity
No evidence of carcinogenic activity was observed in mice given albendazole in the diet at doses up
to 400mg/kg/day for 25 months. In rats, dietary administration of doses of 3.5, 7 and 20mg/kg/day
did not affect the total incidence of adrenocortical tumours (adenoma plus carcinoma), however, in
females there was an increased incidence of adrenocortical carcinomas.
Mutagenicity tests with bacterial cells and an assay of chromosomal damage in vivo have shown no
clear evidence that albendazole has genotoxic activity. A cell transformation assay showed a slight
dose-related increase in the transformation rate of cultured mouse cells in the presence of metabolic
activation.
Use in Pregnancy (Category D)
See CONTRAINDICATIONS. ZENTEL is contraindicated during pregnancy, and for one month
prior to conception. In order to avoid administering albendazole during early pregnancy, women of
child bearing age should initiate treatment during the first week of menstruation or after a negative
pregnancy test.

The use of ZENTEL in human pregnancy has not been studied, but in animal studies it is
teratogenic in more than one species. In animal studies oral treatment with maternotoxic doses of
albendazole (30mg/kg/day) during the period of organogenesis was associated with multiple
malformations in rats and ectrodactyly in rabbits. In one study in rats, an oral dose (10mg/kg/day)
similar to the human therapeutic dose was not maternotoxic, but was associated with
microphthalmia and microfetalis.

The latter occurred alone and together with multiple

malformations including cranioschisis, talipes and renal agenesis. There is no information on the
possible effect of albendazole on the human foetus.
Use in Lactation:
Adequate human and animal data on use during lactation are not available. Therefore breast feeding
should be discontinued during and for a minimum of 5 days after treatment.
Interactions
Cimetidine, praziquantel and dexamethasone have been reported to increase the plasma levels of the
albendazole active metabolite.
Ritonavir, phenytoin, carbamazepine and phenobarbital may have the potential to reduce plasma
concentrations of the active metabolite of albendazole; albendazole sulfoxide. The clinical
relevance of this is unknown, but may result in decreased efficacy, especially in the treatment of
systemic helminth infections. Patients should be monitored for efficacy and may require alternative
dose regimens or therapies.

ADVERSE REACTIONS
The following adverse events were observed during clinical studies. It should however be noted
that causality has not necessarily been established for these events.

Common (1%)
Abdominal pain was the most frequently reported symptom (1%) during short term dosing,
however this frequency was not significantly different from that in placebo-treated patients.
Uncommon (>0.1% and <1%)

Diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, itchiness and/or skin rashes were reported. There was
no significant difference in the percentage of patients experiencing diarrhoea, compared to
placebo-treated patients.

Rare (< 0.1%)

Rarely reported events included bone pain, proteinuria, and low red cell count. Leucopenia and
transiently raised hepatic enzymes were reported in studies with laboratory monitoring, however
no definite relationship to the drug was shown.
Hypersensitvity reactions including rash, pruritis and urticaria have been reported very rarely.
During prolonged higher dose albendazole therapy of hydatid disease there have also been reports
of severe hepatic abnormalities, including jaundice and hepatocellular damage which may be
irreversible.
Post-Marketing Data
During post-marketing surveillance, the following reactions have been reported additionally in
temporal association with ZENTEL.

Use in intestinal infections and Cutaneous larva migrans (short duration treatment at lower dose):
Headache has been reported uncommonly ( 0.1% and <1%) in treatment with albendazole.
Erythema multiforme and Stevens-Johnson syndrome have been reported very rarely (<0.01%).
Use in systemic helminth infections (longer duration of treatment at higher doses):
Headache has been reported very commonly (10%).
Reversible alopecia (thinning of hair, and moderate hair loss) and fever have been reported
commonly (1% and <10%).
Hepatitis has been uncommonly associated with albendazole treatment.
Blood disorders such as pancytopenia, aplastic anaemia and agranulocytosis have been associated
very rarely with albendazole treatment.

Patients with liver disease, including hepatic

echinococcosis, appear to be more susceptible to bone marrow suppression (see Precautions).

There have been very rare cases of Erythema multiforme and Stevens-Johnson syndrome.

DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION

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ZENTEL 200mg chewable tablets may be crushed, chewed, or swallowed whole.

Adults and Children (over two years):

Enterobius vermicularis, Ascaris lumbricoides, Ancylostoma duodenale, Necator americanus

and Trichuris trichiura: 400mg (two ZENTEL 200mg tablets) as a single dose, taken on an
empty stomach.

Suspected or confirmed Strongyloides stercoralis infestation: ZENTEL 400mg once daily,

taken on an empty stomach for three consecutive days. Patients should then be appropriately
followed for at least 2 weeks to confirm cure.

Cutaneous larva migrans: 400mg once daily, taken with food for one to three days has been
reported to be effective.

Suspected or confirmed Taenia spp. or Hymenolepis nana infestation, when other susceptible
helminths species are present: ZENTEL 400mg once daily, taken on an empty stomach for
three consecutive days. If the patient is not cured after three weeks, a second course of
ZENTEL treatment is indicated. In cases of proven H. nana infestation, retreatment in 10-21
days is recommended. (see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS)

Mixed worm infestations including Opisthorchis viverrini and Clonorchis sinensis: 400mg
twice a day, taken with food for three days is effective. Patients should be re-examined 1 month
after treatment to confirm fluke eradication.

OVERDOSAGE
Further management should be as clinically indicated or contact the Poisons Information Centre
(telephone 131126) for advice on overdose management.

STORAGE
ZENTEL tablets should be stored below 30C.

PRESENTATION

ZENTEL - chewable tablets containing 200mg albendazole white to off-white, circular, biconvex,
bevel edged film coated tablet, with a pentagonal pyramid on each face, blisters or bottles of 6
tablets.

NAME AND ADDRESS OF SPONSOR:

GlaxoSmithKline
Level 4
436 Johnston Street
Abbotsford, 3067
Australia
Version 3.0
Date of TGA Approval: 25 January 2011