Dorothy FarrarAnthelmintic drugs
Anthelmintics belong to the group of antiparasitics and are effective against worm infestation in humans and animals. They gradually kill otherwise non-removable worms, allowing the host’s body to excrete them in a controlled manner.
What are anthelmintics?
Anthelmintics are a subgroup of antiparasitics and are effective against various types of worms in humans and animals. It treats helminthiasis, the disease caused by worm infestation in internal organs, by killing worms in various ways. In most cases, the active ingredients of the anthelmintic drugs intervene in the metabolism of the worms and thereby kill them gradually, so that when administering such a drug can also be spoken of deworming.
Other forms of anthelmintics prevent the worms from dividing and thereby prevent their survival, or they destroy individual cell types of the worm. The aim of an anthelmintic is to kill enough worms to permanently wipe out the population in the patient’s body, but at the same time not to flood his body with dead worms, which he cannot excrete at the required rate. In case of infestation of certain organs or very severe worm infestation, anthelmintics can be supported by the surgical removal of some worms.
Effect and medical application
Anthelmintic drugs work according to different mechanisms of action, but all have the goal of killing worms. Most anthelmintic drugs work by interfering with the metabolism of the worm and thus leading to the death of the parasite. Gradually, all worms die off and are usually excreted through the bowel movement. Single anthelmintics destroy the calcium channels in the cell membrane of the worm, causing muscle contractions. The affected worm does not survive this for long.
Others intervene in the cell division and inhibit the formation of the so-called spindle apparatus, whereby the cell division stops at this point – this also ends fatally for the worm. If the anthelmintic acts, the worm can no longer hold on to the tissue of the host and is rejected. It passes through the digestive tract and can be excreted without major difficulties. With an effective anthelmintic, most worms in the host body could be killed simultaneously, which is why the dosage of the active ingredient plays a major role in these drugs.
Shapes and groups
In this country, anthelmintics are most often used against tapeworms and nematodes, as humans are most likely to catch them from a pet and they are native here. Schistosomiasis, caused by schistosomiasis, which is not a domestic disease, is also treated with anthelmintic drugs. The most efficient active substance against nematodes is mebendazole, praziquantel is effective against tapeworms. Other known active ingredients of the group of anthelmintics are flubendazole or niclosamide.
Dosage
The dosage is crucial for anthelmintic drugs. The drug itself, in sufficient doses, can kill many worms at once. However, this does not always make sense for the patient, as he has to excrete the dead worms with the bowel movement. If too many dead worms came through the digestive tract at once, this could lead to serious constipation up to intestinal obstruction (ileus), which can end in emergency surgery. Therefore, depending on the patient’s body weight and the extent of the worm infestation, anthelmintic drugs are dosed in such a way that parasites are killed as quickly as possible, but the patient can keep up with the excretion. Furthermore, the dosage is also kept low because anthelmintic drugs can cause side effects.
Plant-based, natural and pharmaceutical alternatives
As a herbal alternative to anthelmintics, there are the so-called “worm herbs”. These include, for example, the Indian wormweed or the tansy. However, some worm herbs are not native to this country and do not have such a strong effect as the anthelmintics of conventional medicine. For a serious worm infestation, their effect would not be sufficient. If necessary, however, they can be taken in addition if the attending physician has no objections to them.
The best alternative to the use of anthelmintics is, of course, the prevention of worm infestation. Berries from the forest, for example, should not be eaten, as they can carry the eggs of the fox tapeworm. The preventive worming cure for pets such as dogs and cats is mandatory, whereby a cat only needs this if it is outdoors. As a result, contact with worms can be almost completely avoided under today’s living conditions and anthelmintics are not even necessary.
Interactions and side effects
Anthelmintic drugs can cause side effects that depend on the active ingredient. Typical for many active ingredients are abdominal pain, indigestion and diarrhea, which can sometimes also be caused by the excretion of dead worms. With a single treatment with anthelmintic drugs, these side effects are usually unproblematic. They even extend to nausea and vomiting. Also typical are headaches and muscle pains with the use of anthelmintic drugs. Very rare are hypersensitivity to the active substance, as well as an allergic reaction to the anthelmintic.
If anthelmintics have to be used for a longer period of time, the general condition of the patient can be significantly influenced by these side effects and the drug also puts a strain on the Liver and kidneys. In particular, the anthelmintic mebendazole has been shown in animal experiments to be harmful to unborn children, which is why it must not be used in pregnant women as a precaution. Instead, alternatives such as praziquantel are used in pregnant women. In breastfeeding women, anthelmintics are only an option if breast milk can be pumped, as they pass into it.
Hello and welcome to my Health Guide & Encyclopedia! My name is Dorothy Farrar, and I'm the founder and main author of this platform.
My passion for health and wellness started at a young age when I became interested in the connection between the food we eat and the way we feel. This fascination led me to study nutrition and dietetics in college, where I learned about the importance of a balanced diet and the impact of various nutrients on the body.