Triclabendazole

Triclabendazole is used to treat fascioliasis (an infection, usually in the liver and bile ducts, caused by flat worms [liver flukes]) in adults and children 6 years of age and older. Triclabendazole is in a class of medications called anthelmintics. It works by killing the flat worms.

Triclabendazole comes as a tablet to take by mouth. It is usually taken every twelve hours for 2 doses. Take triclabendazole with food. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take triclabendazole exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it than prescribed by your doctor.

If you cannot swallow the tablet whole or divided in half, you can crush the tablet and mix with applesauce. Be sure to eat the mixture within 4 hours of preparing.

This medication may be prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Before taking triclabendazole,

• tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to triclabendazole, albendazole (Albenza), mebendazole (Emverm), any other medications, or any of the ingredients in triclabendazole tablets. Ask your pharmacist for a list of the ingredients.

• tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or plan to take. Be sure to mention amiodarone (Nexterone, Pacerone), anagrelide (Agrylin), chloroquine, chlorpromazine, cilostazol, ciprofloxacin (Cipro), citalopram (Celexa), clarithromycin, disopyramide (Norpace), dofetilide (Tikosyn), donepezil (Aricept), dronedarone (Multaq), escitalopram (Lexapro), flecainide (Tambocor), fluconazole (Diflucan), haloperidol (Haldol), ibutilide (Corvert), levofloxacin, methadone (Dolophine, Methadose), moxifloxacin (Avelox), ondansetron (Zuplenz, Zofran), pentamidine (Pentam), phenobarbital phenytoin (Dilantin, Phenytek), pimozide (Orap), procainamide, quinidine (in Nuedexta), sotalol (Betapace, Sorine, Sotylize), and thioridazine. Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects. Many other medications may also interact with triclabendazole, so be sure to tell your doctor about all the medications you are taking, even those that do not appear on this list.

• tell your doctor if you have or have ever had a prolonged QT interval (a rare heart problem that may cause irregular heartbeat, fainting, or sudden death), or the symptoms of prolonged QT interval.

• tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding.

Unless your doctor tells you otherwise, continue your normal diet.

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember it.

• Triclabendazole may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

  • abdominal pain

  • heavy sweating

  • dizziness

  • nausea

  • vomiting

  • hives

  • itching

  • headache

  • shortness of breath

  • decreased appetite

  • fever

  • diarrhea

• Some side effects can be serious. If you experience any of these symptoms, call your doctor immediately:

  • yellow skin or eyes

• Triclabendazole may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while taking this medication.

• If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online (http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch) or by phone (1-800-332-1088).

Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children. Store it at room temperature and away from excess heat and moisture (not in the bathroom).

It is important to keep all medication out of sight and reach of children as many containers (such as weekly pill minders and those for eye drops, creams, patches, and inhalers) are not child-resistant and young children can open them easily. To protect young children from poisoning, always lock safety caps and immediately place the medication in a safe location – one that is up and away and out of their sight and reach. http://www.upandaway.org

Unneeded medications should be disposed of in special ways to ensure that pets, children, and other people cannot consume them. However, you should not flush this medication down the toilet. Instead, the best way to dispose of your medication is through a medicine take-back program. Talk to your pharmacist or contact your local garbage/recycling department to learn about take-back programs in your community. See the FDA's Safe Disposal of Medicines website (http://goo.gl/c4Rm4p) for more information if you do not have access to a take-back program.

In case of overdose, call the poison control helpline at 1-800-222-1222. Information is also available online at https://www.poisonhelp.org/help. If the victim has collapsed, had a seizure, has trouble breathing, or can't be awakened, immediately call emergency services at 911.

Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. Your doctor may order certain lab tests to check your body's response to triclabendazole.

It is important for you to keep a written list of all of the prescription and nonprescription (over-the-counter) medicines you are taking, as well as any products such as vitamins, minerals, or other dietary supplements. You should bring this list with you each time you visit a doctor or if you are admitted to a hospital. It is also important information to carry with you in case of emergencies.