Worm infections of the gut are more widespread than most people assume, and they are also easier to deal with. The treatment itself is usually simple. Whether the infection returns tends to depend on what happens at home once treatment is over.
Everything below is general information. None of it is medical advice.
How mebendazole works
Mebendazole is an anthelmintic, which means a medicine for worm infections, and in the United States you need a prescription to get it. Inside the worm, it attaches to a protein called tubulin and blocks the assembly of microtubules. A worm that cannot build microtubules cannot absorb glucose, so it gradually runs out of energy and passes out of the intestine. Only a small amount of the drug reaches your bloodstream, and that is one reason people generally tolerate it well when it is used for these infections.
Chewable mebendazole tablets carry FDA approval for four kinds of intestinal worm infection, and for mixed infections involving more than one of them:
- Pinworm
- Whipworm
- Common roundworm
- Hookworm
Those approvals cover the chewable tablets only. Mebendazole prescribed through Teleways Rx is dispensed as a compounded capsule, and compounded drugs are not FDA-approved. The FDA does not verify the safety, effectiveness or quality of compounded drugs before they reach the market.
Why your physician asks so many questions
The four infections do not all look the same. By asking about your symptoms, when they started, any recent travel and the people you live with, a physician can judge which infection is most likely, and whether another medicine would suit you better.
The treatment plan also depends on the infection. Some need a single dose, others a course lasting several days, and a few call for a second course some weeks after the first. Your physician makes that call, and the schedule is printed on your pharmacy label.
Why pinworm spreads so easily at home
Pinworm moves readily from one person to another within the same home. Your physician may therefore ask whether anyone you live with should also be assessed. The answer is a matter of clinical judgment, not a set rule.
Because Teleways Rx treats only adults, a household member under 18 would need to be seen by their own doctor.
Habits that help prevent reinfection
For pinworm in particular, the medicine does only half of the job, and daily hygiene does the other half. Infections frequently come back when these steps are skipped:
- Wash your hands well with soap and water, above all after using the bathroom and before you eat.
- Keep your fingernails short, and avoid biting them.
- Launder bedding, towels and underwear often while you are being treated.
- Put on clean underwear each day.
What to expect after treatment
Symptoms do not always disappear the moment an infection clears, so allow them some time to settle. Your physician will explain how long recovery usually takes and at what point to contact your care team if you are not getting better.
When symptoms return, the cause may be a new infection rather than a treatment that failed, and each calls for a different next step. Work that out with your care team instead of starting another course on your own.
Safety notes
Most side effects are mild and pass quickly. Among those reported are abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea and gas. Rash has also been reported, and more serious allergic reactions have occurred in rare cases.
Let your physician know if you are pregnant, breastfeeding or planning a pregnancy, if you have liver disease, or if you take metronidazole, since mebendazole and metronidazole are generally not used together.
Mebendazole is meant for a specific infection that has been identified. It is not something to take routinely as a cleanse or to ward off infection. Report any side effect to your care team. If you prefer, you can also go straight to the FDA’s MedWatch program by calling 1-800-FDA-1088.
