Mebendazole is a broad-spectrum anthelmintic belonging to the benzimidazoles, effective against roundworms and, depending on the dose, also against some tapeworms (e.g. Moniezia spp) as welll. It is ineffectice against flukes (e.g. Fasciola hepatica adults) at the usual therapeutic dose. It is completely ineffective against external parasites.
Oral administration is the rule. It is used scarcely in livestock (mainly in drenches and feed additives), more in pets (often in tablets, pills, etc. or oral suspensions) and horses (mostly in oral pastes & gels). There are numerous generic brands worldwide, also in mixtures with other anthelmintics.
It is not used in agricultural or household pests.
In ruminants, a 50% reduction of the diet 36 prior and 8 hours after treatment slows down the passage through the stomach, which increases the bioavailability of benzimidazoles and their metabolites and consequently its efficacy against gastrointestinal parasites.
In carnivores (incl. dogs and cats) delivery with the food increases the bioavailability of all benzimidazoles resulting in a better efficacy.
All benzimidazoles have almost no residual effect, i.e. they kill the parasites during a few hours after treatment but offer no significant protection against re-infestation.
Unfortunately, resistance of gastrointestinal roundworms to all benzimidazoles in sheep, goats, cattle and horses is a major problem in numerous countries. Not so yet in pets, swine or poultry.
The table below indicates some usual dosing recommendations for mebendazole issued by manufacturers or documented in the scientific literature. They may not be approved in some countries.
Dosing recommendations for MEBENDAZOLE |
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DOGS | ||
Delivery | Parasites | Dose (against mebendazole-susceptible parasites) |
Oral | Ascarids (Toxocara, Toxascaris) |
20-22 mg/kg/day x3 days; or 10 mg/kg 2x/day, 2 consecutive days |
Oral | Ancylostoma caninum, Uncinaria stenocephala |
22 mg/kg/day x3 days; or 10 mg/kg 2x/day, 5 consecutive days |
Oral | Angiostrongylus vasorum | 22 mg/kg/day x3 days; or 10 mg/kg 2x/day, 5 consecutive days |
Oral | Capillaria aerophila | 6 mg/kg 2x/day, 5 consecutive days |
Oral | Taenia spp | 22 mg/kg/day x3-5 days; or 10 mg/kg 2x/day, 5 consecutive days |
Oral | Trichuris vulpis | <2 kg bw: 50 mg/kg 2x/day; >2 kg bw: 100 mg/kg 2x/day |
CATS | ||
Delivery | Parasites | Dose (against mebendazole-susceptible parasites) |
Oral | Ascarids (Toxocara, Toxascaris) |
10 mg/kg 2x/day, 2 consecutive days |
Oral | Ancylostoma, Uncinaria | 10 mg/kg 2x/day, 5 consecutive days |
Oral | Taenia spp | 10 mg/kg 2x/day, 5 consecutive days |
CATTLE | ||
Delivery | Parasites | Dose (against mebendazole-susceptible parasites) |
Oral | Roundworms | 15 mg/kg |
Oral | Dictyocaulus viviparus | 20 mg/kg |
Oral | Moniezia spp | 10 mg/kg |
SHEEP | ||
Delivery | Parasites | Dose (against mebendazole-susceptible parasites) |
Oral | Gastrointestinal roundworms | 15-20 mg/kg |
Oral | Cysts of Echinococcus granulosus | 50 mg/kg/day during 3 months |
Oral | Cysts of Taenia hydatigena | 50 mg/kg/day during 3 months |
Oral | Muellerius capillaris, Protostrongylus rufescens | 15 mg/kg on 3 consecutive days |
SWINE | ||
Delivery | Parasites | Dose (against mebendazole-susceptible parasites) |
Oral | Ascaris suum | 30 mg/kg in the feed during 5 days |
Oral | Ascaris suum migrating larvae | 30 mg/kg in the feed during 10 days |
Oral | Strongylids | 30 mg/kg in the feed during 5 days |
Oral | Trichuris spp | 30 mg/kg in the feed during 5 days |
HORSES | ||
Delivery | Parasites | Dose (against mebendazole-susceptible parasites) |
Oral | Gastrointestinal roundworms | 5-10 mg/kg |
Oral | Dictyocaulus arnfieldi | 20 mg/kg x5 consecutive days |
Oral | Anaplocephala spp | 20 mg/kg |
POULTRY | ||
Delivery | Parasites | Dose (against mebendazole-susceptible parasites) |
Oral | Gastrointestinal roundworms | 60 ppm (= mg/kg) in feed x7 days (partridges & pheasants 120 ppm) |
Oral | Tapeworms | 120 ppm (= mg/kg) in feed x10 days |
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Dosing recommendations for antiparasitics depend on national regulations. National regulatory authorities determine whether a product is approved for a given indication, i.e. use on a particular host at a specific dose and against a specific parasite. Check the labels of the products available in your country for specific information on approved indications.
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