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Pyrantel

Pyrantel is an antiparasitic medicine used to treat pinworm infections, available in tablet and oral suspension forms across multiple brands.

Brand names AscarelParasitolReese's Pinworm MedicinePin-XRfd +11 more
OTC Forms 2
Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
Reviewed by Last reviewed Jul 10, 2026 Content updated Oct 2, 2026
🧬 Where this information comes from Click to expand

The clinical label records used on this page are FDA-filed Structured Product Labeling (SPL) retrieved through openFDA. We identified 17 clinical label sets within the page’s selected clinical scope after exact ingredient or ingredient-combination matching and applicable route/form matching. Forms, routes, brands, labelers, strengths, and NDC product-record counts are built separately from matching FDA National Drug Code Directory records. The linked DailyMed document is a representative official source for verification, not the page’s only clinical source. View the linked label on DailyMed →

How we combine label and product data →
✓No current FDA shortage listed · checked Oct 3, 2026
Pyrantel at a glance The quick version — the full detail is in the Patient Information Guide below.
Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
The Pharmacist’s Take By · Clinical pharmacist · Written

Pyrantel is the go-to over-the-counter medicine for pinworms, a common intestinal worm in children, and a single dose paralyzes the worms so they pass in the stool. It has been on the U.S. market since about 2002 and is available generically from many store brands. Most people tolerate it well, and when side effects show up they are usually mild stomach cramps, nausea or a headache. Itching or worms that linger after treatment mean a doctor visit, not a second dose on your own. It is not for anyone with liver disease, during pregnancy, or for a child under 2 years or 25 pounds unless a doctor says so.

Clinical pearls

  • Treat the whole household the same day, even people without itching, since pinworm eggs pass easily between family members.
  • Dosing goes by body weight, not age, so weigh each child and use the dosing cup in the box.
  • No fasting or laxative is needed, and it can go down with milk or juice; shake the suspension well first.
  • Wash bedding and underwear in hot water and keep nails short, since the medicine kills worms but not the eggs.
How we write & review this content — our editorial policy →
How you get itOver the counter
Comes asOral suspension, Tablet
Earliest FDA record2002
Companies listing it with the FDA29
FDA label last updatedJun 18, 2025
FDA’s strongest warning (boxed)None on the label

Patient information guide — a plain-language walkthrough of Pyrantel, written from its FDA label.

What Pyrantel is used for

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Pyrantel is an antiparasitic medication used to treat pinworm infections. All supported products are indicated for this use:

  • Pinrid (tablet) — treatment of pinworm infection
  • MebendamaX (tablet) — treatment of pinworm infection
  • Lombrix (tablet) — treatment of pinworm infection
  • Vrmx 500 (tablet) — treatment of pinworm infection
  • Pyrantel Pamoate (tablet and oral suspension) — treatment of pinworm infection
  • Parasitol (tablet and oral suspension) — treatment of pinworm infection
  • CVS Pinworm Treatment (oral suspension) — treatment of pinworm infection
  • Parasitexx (oral suspension) — treatment of pinworm infection
  • Pinworm (oral suspension) — treatment of pinworm infection
  • pinworm treatment (oral suspension) — treatment of pinworm infection

Pyrantel dosage

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Pyrantel is taken by mouth as a single one-time dose. The amount is based on body weight — follow your specific product label carefully, as tablet and suspension products have different dosing instructions. Do not exceed the maximum dose or repeat treatment unless your doctor tells you to.

  • Oral suspensions (CVS Pinworm Treatment, Parasitexx, Parasitol, Pinworm, pinworm treatment, Pyrantel Pamoate suspension): Shake well before use. Can be taken any time of day, with or without food or drink. No laxative needed.
  • Tablets (MebendamaX, Pyrantel Pamoate tablet, Lombrix, Vrmx 500): Can be taken any time of day, with or without meals, and may be taken with milk or fruit juice. No laxative needed.
  • Pinrid tablets: Take only one dose unless a doctor advises otherwise; treat the entire household.
  • Children under 25 pounds or under 2 years old should not use most products without a doctor's guidance; Pinrid advises the same for children under 4 years old or under 25 pounds.

Dosing details from the FDA-approved label

From the Pyrantel prescribing information (“Dosage and Administration”). Doses are set by your prescriber for your product, condition, kidney function and age — never change a dose on your own.

  • Adults, children 12 years of age and over, and children 2 years to under 12 years of age
    • Single dose of 5 milligrams of pyrantel base per pound, or 11 milligrams per kilogram, of body weight
    • Suspension by weight: 25-37 lbs ½ teaspoonful (2.5 mL)
    • 38-62 lbs 1 teaspoonful (5 mL)
    • 63-87 lbs 1 ½ teaspoonful (7.5 mL)
    • 88-112 lbs 2 teaspoonful (10 mL)
    • 113-137 lbs 2 ½ teaspoonful (12.5 mL)
    • 138-162 lbs 3 teaspoonful (15 mL)
    • 163-187 lbs 3 ½ teaspoonf
    • Maximum: Do not exceed 1 gram (1000 mg)
    • Single dose only; do not repeat treatment unless directed by a doctor. Can be taken any time of day, with or without meals, alone or with milk or fruit juice. Shake suspension well before use. Laxative not necessary.
  • Children under 25 lbs or under 2 years of age
    • Do not use unless directed by a doctor
    • Pinrid tablet label says for children less than 25 pounds or under 4 years old, consult a doctor before use
  • Pinrid tablets (weight-based dosing)
    • 25-37 lb ½ tablet
    • 38-62 lbs 1 tablet
    • 63-87 lbs 1½ tablets
    • 88-112 lbs 2 tablets
    • 113-137 lbs 2½ tablets
    • 138-162 lbs 3 tablets
    • 163-187 lbs 3½ tablets
    • Over 188 lbs 4 tablets
    • Take only one dose unless directed by doctor; treat the entire household
Read the label’s full dosing text

Directions Shake well before use. Adults, children 12 years of age and over, and children 2 years to under 12 years of age: Oral dosage is a single dose of 5 milligrams of pyrantel base per pound, or 11 milligrams per kilogram, of body weight. Do not exceed 1 gram (1000 mg). Weight Dosage (Taken as a single dose) Under 25 lbs or 2 yrs. Don't use unless directed by a doctor 25-37 lbs ½ teaspoonful 38-62 lbs 1 teaspoonful 63-87 lbs 1 ½ teaspoonful 88-112 lbs 2 teaspoonful 113-137 lbs 2 ½ teaspoonful 138-162 lbs 3 teaspoonful 163-187lbs 3 ½ teaspoonful over 188 lbs 4 teaspoonful * Read package insert carefully before taking this medication. Take only according to directions and do not exceed the recommended dosage unless directed by a doctor. Medication should only be taken one time as a single dose; do not repeat treatment unless directed by a doctor. When one individual in a household has pinworms, the entire household should be treated unless otherwise advised. See Warnings . If any worms other than pinworms are present before or after treatment consult a doctor. If any symptoms or pinworms are still present after treatment, consult a doctor. *This product can be taken any time of day, with or without meals, it may be taken alone or with milk or fruit juice. Use of a laxative is not necessary prior to, during or after medication.

Read the full Dosage and Administration section on DailyMed →

Pyrantel side effects

▾

Common side effects

  • Stomach cramps
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Headache
  • Dizziness

When to get medical help

  • Call your doctor if pinworm symptoms or pinworms are still present after treatment
  • Call your doctor if worms other than pinworms are found before or after treatment
  • Call your doctor if side effects like stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, or dizziness persist
  • In case of accidental overdose, get medical help or contact a Poison Control Center right away

Pyrantel is generally well tolerated, but some people experience mild side effects after taking it:

  • Stomach cramps
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Headache
  • Dizziness

If any of these symptoms persist after your dose, stop use and contact your doctor. In case of accidental overdose, get medical help or call Poison Control immediately.

Pyrantel warnings and precautions

▾
  • Liver disease: Ask a doctor before use if you have liver disease.
  • Pregnancy: Ask a doctor before use if you are pregnant.
  • Young children: Do not use in children under 25 pounds or under 2 years of age without a doctor's direction. Pinrid tablets additionally advise consulting a doctor for children under 4 years old or under 25 pounds.
  • Persistent symptoms: If pinworms or symptoms are still present after treatment, or if worms other than pinworms appear, stop use and see a doctor.
  • Overdose: Keep out of reach of children. If an accidental overdose occurs, get medical help or contact a Poison Control Center right away.

Pyrantel interactions

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The FDA labeling for pyrantel products does not list specific drug or food interactions.

    Not a complete list. The label covers the interactions the manufacturer studied or reported, and our own interaction database does not cover every medicine either. Bring your full medication list, including vitamins and herbal products, to your pharmacist.

    Check Pyrantel against a supplement or herb →

    Before taking Pyrantel

    ▾
    • Tell your doctor if you have liver disease before taking pyrantel
    • Tell your doctor if you are pregnant
    • Do not give to children under 25 pounds or under 2 years of age without a doctor's approval (Pinrid: under 25 pounds or under 4 years old)
    • If worms other than pinworms are suspected, consult a doctor before treating

    Pyrantel overdose

    ▾

    In the event of an accidental overdose, get medical help or contact a Poison Control Center right away. Keep pyrantel products out of reach of children to prevent accidental ingestion.

    How to store Pyrantel

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    Store upright up to 25° C (77° F) with brief excursions 40° C (104° F). DO NOT FREEZE.

    Written from the FDA-approved label with AI and reviewed by our pharmacy team. How we use AI →

    Pyrantel: pharmacist answers to common questions

    Quick, plain-English answers to the questions patients ask most about Pyrantel — the kind of thing our pharmacy team would talk through with you at the counter.

    What exactly does pyrantel treat?

    ▾
    Pyrantel treats pinworm infections. Pinworms are small parasites that live in the intestines and are especially common in school-age children. If you or your child has been diagnosed with pinworms, pyrantel is an effective, single-dose treatment available over the counter.

    How do I take it — do I need to take it with food?

    ▾
    Nope — you can take it any time of day, with or without food. Tablets may be taken with milk or fruit juice if that helps. If you're using the liquid suspension, give the bottle a good shake before you measure the dose. No laxative is needed before or after. The most important thing: it's a single one-time dose, so don't take more unless your doctor says to.

    Does the whole family need to be treated, even if only one person has symptoms?

    ▾
    Yes, in most cases. Pinworms spread easily within a household, so the guidance is to treat everyone in the home at the same time — unless your doctor advises otherwise. This helps prevent reinfection and stops the cycle.

    What side effects should I watch for?

    ▾
    Most people tolerate pyrantel fine. Some do experience stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, or dizziness. These usually pass on their own. But if any of these symptoms stick around after your dose, stop and check in with your doctor.

    Is it safe to take if I'm pregnant or if my child is very young?

    ▾
    If you're pregnant, talk to your doctor before taking pyrantel — the label specifically says to check first. For very young children, most products should not be used in kids under 25 pounds or under 2 years old without a doctor's guidance. Pinrid tablets set that threshold at under 4 years old. When in doubt, call your pediatrician before giving it to a small child.

    What if the pinworms are still there after I take it?

    ▾
    If you still see pinworms or have symptoms after your single dose, don't just take another dose on your own — contact your doctor. The same goes if you notice any worms that don't look like pinworms before or after treatment. Your doctor can help figure out the next step.

    Is Pyrantel available over the counter?

    ▾
    Yes. The Pyrantel products listed with the FDA are sold over the counter, without a prescription (the oral suspension and tablet forms). Follow the package directions. Your pharmacist can tell you which product is right for you.

    When was Pyrantel first available?

    ▾
    The earliest FDA record we hold for Pyrantel is from 2002: its first approval in Drugs@FDA or its earliest product listing in the NDC Directory, whichever is older. Many older medicines were in use before their first formal FDA approval, so this is the earliest date on record, not necessarily when Pyrantel was first used.

    Who makes Pyrantel?

    ▾
    29 companies list Pyrantel products in the FDA's NDC Directory, including Yyba Corp, Opmx Llc, Vovantis Laboratories Private Limited. That count includes repackagers and distributors as well as manufacturers, so fewer companies actually make it; the label on your bottle names the one that supplied yours.

    Answers drafted from the FDA-approved label with AI and reviewed by our pharmacy team. How we use AI →

    More about Pyrantel on HelloPharmacist

    🌿Drug & Supplement CheckerPyrantel vs. vitamins & herbs 💬Ask a PharmacistFree answer, usually < 24h 🔎NDC & pricing lookupFind Pyrantel NDCs & costs 🅰️Browse Drugs A–ZLook up any medication
    Detailed data & references for Pyrantel Forms & strengths, pricing, billing codes, manufacturers, safety reports and sourcing — the data behind the page. Most people can stop here. Each section below opens on a tap.

    Pyrantel forms and strengths (how it comes)

    Pyrantel is available in 2 forms. Different forms and brands can have different approved uses, doses, schedules, and directions. Follow the instructions for your exact product, and do not switch forms without guidance from your prescriber or pharmacist.

    Oral suspension

    By mouth
    Brands Parasitol Pyrantel Pamoate
    How this form is used
    What it may be used for
    • CVS Pinworm Treatment, Parasitexx, Parasitol, Pinworm, pinworm treatment, and Pyrantel Pamoate oral suspension are each indicated for the treatment of pinworm infection
    Important instructions
    • Shake the bottle well before each use
    • Can be taken at any time of day, with or without meals — milk or fruit juice is fine; no laxative is needed
    • Taken as a single one-time dose based on body weight; do not repeat unless a doctor directs you to
    • Treat the entire household at the same time unless otherwise advised; consult a doctor if pinworms or symptoms remain after treatment
    Available strengths 2 strengths
    50 mg/mL 144 mg/mL
    20 FDA-listed product records ⓘ

    Tablet

    By mouth
    Brands Parasitol Pinrid Pyrantel Pamoate
    How this form is used
    What it may be used for
    • Lombrix, MebendamaX, Parasitol, Pinrid, Pyrantel Pamoate, and Vrmx 500 tablets are each indicated for the treatment of pinworm infection
    Important instructions
    • MebendamaX and Pyrantel Pamoate tablets can be taken at any time of day, with or without meals, and may be taken with milk or fruit juice; no laxative is needed
    • Taken as a single one-time dose based on body weight; do not repeat unless a doctor directs you to
    • Treat the entire household at the same time unless otherwise advised
    • Pinrid tablets: consult a doctor before use for children under 25 pounds or under 4 years old; consult a doctor if pinworm signs persist after treatment
    Available strengths 3 strengths
    180 mg 250 mg 720.5 mg
    14 FDA-listed product records ⓘ

    Pyrantel on the U.S. market: products, makers and brands

    How Pyrantel appears in the FDA’s National Drug Code Directory — including its dosage forms, strengths, brand names, manufacturers, and FDA-listed product records. These are directory records, not sales or prescription volume.

    29 companies list 53 Pyrantel product records with the FDA, mostly as oral suspension, tablet; the earliest marketing or approval year on record is 2002. Brand names on the directory include Ascarel, Parasitol, Reese's Pinworm Medicine and 13 more; the rest are generics.

    2
    Dose forms ⓘ
    29
    Labelers (makers, repackagers, distributors)
    13
    Brand names
    53
    FDA-listed product records ⓘ
    2002
    Earliest FDA record ⓘ

    FDA-listed product records by dose form (tablet variants merged) — FDA National Drug Code Directory. Record counts are not sales or prescription volume.

    Also listed with the FDA, not a patient dose form: Powder (17) · Granule (2) — bulk drug substance sold to compounders/manufacturers and multi-item kits. These aren’t counted in the dose-form total above.

    Yyba Corp9%
    Opmx Llc8%
    Vovantis Laboratories Private Limited8%
    Menper Distributors Inc.6%
    Jefferson Labs6%
    Ipca Laboratories Limited6%
    Other makers58%

    Share of FDA-listed product records by manufacturer — FDA National Drug Code Directory. Record counts are not sales or prescription volume.

    Compare Pyrantel products

    A representative set of FDA-listed product records for Pyrantel — across manufacturers, strengths, and dosage forms, grouped by form with each product’s manufacturer and how the FDA approved it. The same medicine may be made and packaged by different companies, so a single drug can have many directory entries. (It’s also why a refill can look different — a new shape, color, or box — even though it contains the same medication.)

    Showing 53 of 53 products — FDA National Drug Code Directory. See every product, package size and price: browse all 53 Pyrantel NDCs →

    Pyrantel recall history

    A recall is when a specific batch of a medicine is pulled from the market — usually a manufacturing issue, not a problem with the drug itself. Class I is most serious, Class III least.

    The FDA’s enforcement reports list no Pyrantel recalls since July 2021.

    ✅No Pyrantel recalls on record since July 2021

    Source: FDA enforcement (recall) reports, via openFDA; our copy was last updated Sep 24, 2026.

    RxNorm Concept Web — From Ingredient to Every Form and Strength

    This page starts with one ingredient concept (IN). The branches below show its dose-form concepts (SCDF), then the available clinical drug and strength concepts (SCD). Combination products remain separate concepts with their own pages.

    Ingredient (IN) Pyrantel RxCUI 8984 5 dose forms · 9 strengths
    1. Dose form (SCDF) Chewable Tablet RxCUI 373697 No current FDA listing
      Clinical drug / strength (SCD) pamoate 720.5 MG RxCUI 668538
    2. Dose form (SCDF) Oral Paste RxCUI 1009256 No current FDA listing
      Clinical drug / strength (SCD) pamoate 0.439 MG/MG RxCUI 1433543 0.15 MG/MG RxCUI 1009330
    3. Dose form (SCDF) Oral Solution RxCUI 993295 No current FDA listing
      Clinical drug / strength (SCD) 4.54 MG/ML RxCUI 993296
    4. Dose form (SCDF) Oral Suspension RxCUI 373699 In current FDA listings
      Clinical drug / strength (SCD) pamoate 144 MG/ML RxCUI 199106 2.27 MG/ML RxCUI 1006851 4.54 MG/ML RxCUI 882492 50 MG/ML RxCUI 312733
    5. Dose form (SCDF) Oral Tablet RxCUI 373700 In current FDA listings
      Clinical drug / strength (SCD) 180 MG RxCUI 199107

    Look up RxCUI 8984 in the RxCUI Atlas →

    RxNorm is the U.S. National Library of Medicine’s normalized drug vocabulary. Its concept hierarchy can include forms that are not currently marketed; the status on each branch compares that concept with current FDA listings. RxCUIs identify vocabulary concepts, not individual packages or manufacturers.

    Pyrantel brand names

    Pyrantel is sold under 16 brand names in the FDA directory — Ascarel, Parasitol, Reese's Pinworm Medicine, Pin-X and others. A brand and its generic contain the same active ingredient; the brand name belongs to one company's product.

    Ascarel Parasitol Reese's Pinworm Medicine Pin-X Rfd Nemex Strongid Equistrength Liqui-Vict 2X Worm Protector 2X Exodus Pyramax Sure Shot 2X Sentry HC Worm X DS Pyrantel Pamoate Pinrid

    Who makes Pyrantel: manufacturers and labelers

    29 companies list Pyrantel products with the FDA. By number of product records, the largest are Yyba Corp, Opmx Llc, Vovantis Laboratories Private Limited. Labelers include manufacturers and repackagers; the product in your bottle depends on which one your pharmacy stocks.

    Yyba Corp 5 Opmx Llc 4 Vovantis Laboratories Private Limited 4 Menper Distributors Inc. 3 Jefferson Labs 3 Ipca Laboratories Limited 3 ProMex LLC 3 Cvs Pharmacy Inc 3 Walgreens 3 Reese Pharmaceutical Co. 2 Holiday Labs Mexico, S.A. De C.V. 2 Professional Compounding Centers of America 1 Strategic Sourcing Services 1 Pharmadel LLC 1 Moehs Catalana SL 1 Minsheng Group Shaoxing Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. 1 Medisca Inc. 1 Minsheng Group Shaoxing Pharmaceutical Co,. Ltd. 1 Megafine Pharma (P) Limited 1 Amerisource Bergen 1 Letco Medical, Llc 1 Kalchem International Inc 1 Innova Remedies Private Limited 1 Denison Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 1

    …and 5 more on the FDA NDC directory.

    Pyrantel drug class (RxNorm)

    Pyrantel belongs to the Tetrahydropyrimidine derivatives class.

    Drug family (ATC) Tetrahydropyrimidine derivatives

    Classified by RxNorm RxClass — the U.S. National Library of Medicine's standardized drug-classification service (Established Pharmacologic Class from the FDA, the ATC drug family from the WHO, and mechanism of action). Reference only, not medical advice.

    Sources for this Pyrantel page

    Core label, product, RxNorm, safety, and utilization data on this page come from the sources identified below. AI-written, editorial, and licensed sections are labeled separately.

    📄
    FDA-filed drug labels (SPL) Uses, dosing, warnings & side effects from SPL records retrieved through openFDA; the linked representative set can be verified on DailyMed. ✓ Linked label effective Jun 18, 2025
    🏭
    Forms, brands & labelersAggregated from ingredient-matched FDA National Drug Code Directory product records for Pyrantel.
    📈
    Real-world reportsThe FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS), served through openFDA.
    🚨
    Recalls & shortagesopenFDA drug-enforcement reports and the FDA drug-shortage database.
    🧾 Clinical label set — FDA-filed SPL labels retained for Pyrantel after exact ingredient or ingredient-combination matching and applicable route/form matching
    Clinical labels in scope
    17
    NDC products indexed
    53
    Distinct labelers/manufacturers represented
    29
    Linked representative label ⓘ
    Pharmadel LLC
    Linked label effective
    Jun 18, 2025
    Composite sections available
    8
    Linked SPL Set ID
    1d75b912-3550-7d4c-e063-6294a90ad5fa
    Linked SPL Document ID
    37db6b69-9455-c41c-e063-6294a90ae3ee
    Open the linked representative label on DailyMed ↗
    NDC package records associated with this linked SPL 1

    How this page is built

    HelloPharmacist combines public FDA and NLM records and does not author the underlying clinical facts. The plain-language sections are written with AI from the FDA-approved label text and reviewed by our pharmacy team before publication. Pharmadel LLC is the representative DailyMed label linked for verification and dates. This is general education, not medical advice: always talk to your doctor or pharmacist about your own medicines. How we build and review drug pages →