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
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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