Praziquantel, sold under the brand name Biltricide, is an antiparasitic medication used to treat helminth infections in humans and in mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles, and fish. In people it treats schistosomiasis, clonorchiasis, opisthorchiasis, tapeworm infections, cysticercosis, echinococcosis, paragonimiasis, fasciolopsiasis, and fasciolosis, working by disrupting the parasite's muscle contraction and cell membrane, which lets the immune system destroy it. Developed jointly by Bayer and Merck in Germany in the mid 1970s, praziquantel received United States approval in 1982 and is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines, reflecting its importance in the global fight against parasitic disease.
Facts
Mechanism of ActionIncreases calcium ion permeability of schistosome cell membranes, causing muscle contraction and paralysis 1 Approved UseTreats schistosomiasis, clonorchiasis, opisthorchiasis, tapeworm infections and other helminth infections 1 First Approved / Isolated Year Significant RiskAbdominal pain or cramps in about 90% of patients; CNS effects, especially in cerebral cysticercosis 1 Classification
Approval Status ATC ClassSourced to the subject's own accountP: Antiparasitic Products, Insecticides and Repellents 2 Route of Administration WHO Essential MedicineSourced to the subject's own account Sources
1. Praziquantel (Wikipedia)
Lead section, paragraph 2
Praziquantel is in the anthelmintic class of medications
Mechanism of action
praziquantel increases the permeability of the membranes of schistosome cells towards calcium ions
Lead section, paragraph 1
In humans specifically, it is used to treat schistosomiasis, clonorchiasis, opisthorchiasis
Lead section, paragraph 3
approved for medical use in the United States in 1982
Side effects, Gastrointestinal tract
About 90% of all patients have abdominal pain or cramps
Lead section, route-of-administration statement
It is taken by mouth.
- Regulatory approval status
View the Source2. Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical Classification System (Wikipedia)
WikipediaFirst-level anatomical group codes, Code PQuote, First-level anatomical group codes, Code P
Antiparasitic products, insecticides and repellents
3. WHO Model List of Essential Medicines (Wikipedia)
WikipediaWHO Model List of Essential Medicines, Antischistosomals and other antinematode medicines sectionQuote, WHO Model List of Essential Medicines, Antischistosomals and other antinematode medicines section
Praziquantel
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