Zentel – composition, action, indications, dosage, contraindications, side effects

Proven content

Zentel is an oral suspension and tablet medicine used to treat parasitic infections. What is the composition of this preparation and what is its mechanism of action? What are the indications and contraindications for its use and what side effects can it cause? How to take this preparation and with what drugs not to combine it?

Parasite infestation can occur through consumption of water or food containing eggs or larvae of the parasites, which then develop in the intestines. Initially, the parasite infection may be asymptomatic, making the infected person unaware of the developing disease.

The symptoms that are associated with infestation with parasites depend on the species of worm. The most common symptoms include abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea, anemia and fatigue. In some cases, symptoms may affect the liver, lungs, or brain. Parasites that are confined to the intestines are the easiest to treat. The most effective method of treating parasites is pharmacological treatment. One of the medicines used to treat parasites is Zentel.

Zentel – general characteristics of the drug

Zentel is a medicine that is used in the case of infection with round and flat parasites. It is used in adults and children over 2 years of age. The drug is sold stationary upon presentation of a prescription. It is available in a pharmacy in two forms:

1. oral suspension 400 mg / 20 ml;
2. chewable tablets 400 mg.

The price of the drug is not refundable and amounts to. You should pay about PLN 15 for a package of Zentel in the form of tablets. On the other hand, Zentel in the form of a suspension costs about PLN 22.

Zentel contains albendazole, which is responsible not only for fighting parasites, but also their eggs and larvae.

Zentel tablets are pale orange in color. The tablet is oblong, rounded and biconvex in shape, with a breakline on one side and “ALB400” debossed on the other. The tablets have a characteristic fruity odor.

In contrast, Zentel in the form of a suspension is packed in a 20 ml plastic bottle in a cardboard box.

The drug should be stored out of the sight and reach of children at a temperature of 25 degrees Celsius.

The Marketing Authorization Holder and manufacturer of Zentel is GlaxoSmithKline, Dublin. The company has a wide portfolio of innovative and recognized drugs for the treatment of respiratory diseases, HIV, inflammation of the immune system and oncology. It is one of the leading and innovative healthcare companies and supplies over 300 medicines and healthcare products. The representative of the responsible entity in Poland is GSK Services Sp. z o. o. with an office in Warsaw.

What should you know about the symptoms of a parasitic infection? Check: Parasites in the body. The list of potential symptoms is really long. Check!

Zentel – composition and action of the drug

The active substance in Zentel, albendazole, is an antiparasitic drug with a broad spectrum of activity against flatworms (flatworms) and roundworms (roundworms). Zentel 20 ml oral suspension contains 400 mg of albendazole as in one tablet.

This substance acts not only on adult parasites, but also on their larvae. The basis of the mechanism of action of this active substance is that it prevents tubulin polymerization, which irreversibly interferes with the absorption of glucose by the parasites. As a consequence, the digestive functions of the parasites are inhibited, causing the parasite to die due to a lack of energetic compounds.

The other ingredients of Zentel are: lactose, microcrystalline cellulose, maize starch, croscarmellose sodium, povidone, sodium laurilsulfate, sunset yellow lake, sodium saccharin, magnesium stearate, vanilla flavor, aroma, passiflora. Orange.

After oral administration of the drug, albendazole is slightly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. The absorbed part is rapidly converted in the liver to the pharmacologically active sulphoxide, which has an anti-parasitic effect. Absorption of the active substance is about 5 times higher if the drug is taken with food with a high fat content.

The maximum plasma concentration of albendazole sulfoxide occurs about 2 to 5 hours after administration. Albendazole sulfoxide is 70% bound to plasma proteins, the biological half-life is 8,5 h. It is mainly excreted in the bile and in small amounts in the urine.

What should you know about parasite medications? Read: Parasite medications – when to use, types

Zentel – dosage and method of application

Zentel is a medicine that is a suspension or tablet for oral use. The preparation should be used in accordance with the instructions and any doubts should be consulted with a doctor or pharmacist.

The dosage of Zentel is the same for children over 2 years of age and adults, and the duration of treatment depends on the type of parasites being treated.

In the case of infection with pinworms, ascariasis, necatriosis, ankylostomatitis and trichurosis, the dose of the drug is 400 mg administered once. This means that the patient is recommended to take 1 tablet or 20 ml of suspension only once.

In the case of tapeworm and strongyloidosis, it is recommended to take 400 mg of the drug, i.e. 1 tablet or 20 ml of suspension once a day for 3 consecutive days. If all parasites are not controlled, it is recommended to reapply the drug after 3 weeks.

In the elderly, i.e. people over 65 years of age, no dosage adjustment is necessary, unless there is liver impairment.

Hepatic impairment may have a significant impact on the pharmacokinetics of the main pharmacologically active metabolite (sulphoxide), since albendazole is rapidly metabolised by the liver to this metabolite. Therefore, patients should be monitored during treatment with Zentel.

In the case of people with impaired renal function, there is no need to change the dosage of this drug, but the patient should be under constant medical supervision.

Do not exceed the recommended doses, because it will not increase the effectiveness of the drug, and may be harmful to health or life. Zentel can be taken with or without food, both on an empty stomach and with a meal. There is no need to cleanse the digestive tract before using the drug.

The drug in the form of tablets should be swallowed and washed down with water, or in the event of difficulty in swallowing – crush, chew or crush the tablet and drink it down with water. For children and patients who have difficulty swallowing, it is recommended to administer Zentel as a suspension, which must be shaken before measuring the dose.

If your doctor prescribes more than one dose, take it at the same time each day. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are unsure.

How to find out the presence of parasites in the body? Check: Do you have such ailments? They could be parasites – see how to spot them

Zentel indications for use

Zentel contains the active substance albendazole, which is anthelmintic (antiparasitic). This allows the medicine to act on the parasites (worms) and their larvae, preventing them from absorbing the sugars, causing them to lose energy and die. This preparation also acts on parasite eggs, inhibiting their further development.

Zentel is used to treat diseases caused by parasites (worms) such as:

1. infection with human pinworm Enterobius vermicularis (pinworm);
2. human Ascaris infection Ascaris lumbricoides (ascariasis);
3. infection with the duodenal hookworm Ancylostoma duodenale; (ankylostomatosis);
4. infection with the American hookworm Necator americanus (necatoriosis),
5. Strongyloides stercoralis intestinal nematode infection (strongyloidosis);
6. infection with human whipworm Trichuris trichiura (trichurosis);
7. infection with a tapeworm of the genus Taenia (tapeworm disease).

What are human parasites and what should you know about them? Read on: Human parasites: causes, symptoms, treatment

Contraindications to the use of Zentel

The use of Zentel is often not possible despite the indications for starting therapy. There are contraindications that prevent the implementation of this preparation for treatment.

According to the manufacturer, this drug should not be used in people who are hypersensitive to albendazole or any other ingredient of the drug. Zentel tablets contain sunset yellow, which is the main cause of allergic reactions. In addition, the tablets contain lactose and therefore are not recommended for use by people with rare hereditary problems of galactose intolerance, the Lapp lactase deficiency or glucose-galactose malabsorption.

Contraindications to the use of Zentel also include certain diseases and circumstances that may require you to completely abandon this drug or change the dosage of the preparation. The use of Zentel sometimes requires specific follow-up tests.

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Zentel is also not used in children under two years of age, unless the doctor considers it necessary to administer the medicine.

Special precautions should be taken during treatment with albendazoleas its use may reveal cysticercosis of the central nervous system, previously asymptomatic. Symptoms may include neurological signs (seizures, increased intracranial pressure, focal symptoms) which may appear soon after treatment and may require immediate administration of anticonvulsants and steroids.

If you are in any doubt about the use of Zentel, please consult your doctor or pharmacist.

What parasites are most common in children? Check: The most common parasites in children – symptoms and treatment

Zentel – side effects of using the drug

The use of Zentel can cause side effects and side effects that may not necessarily be experienced by every person who uses it. It should be remembered that the expected benefits of using the drug are usually greater than the damage resulting from the occurrence of side effects.

It is important to report any suspected adverse reactions after authorization of the medicinal product so that the benefit / risk balance of the medicinal product can be monitored.

The general classification of the frequency of adverse body reactions (ADRs) is based on the following principles: very common (≥1 / 10), common (≥1 / 100 to <1/10), uncommon (≥1 / 1 to <000/1), rare ( ≥100 / 1 to <10 / 000), very rare (<1 / 1), not known (cannot be estimated from the available data).

Some of the ailments that may occur with the use of the drug are related to the death of parasites in the brain. Taking the drug may reveal an infection of the brain (cysticercosis of the central nervous system) and in the event of the appearance of at least two symptoms, such as visual disturbance, nausea, vomiting, headache or convulsions, see a doctor as soon as possible.

Zentel rarely causes side effects. The possible side effects include:

1. not very common (may affect 1 to 10 in 1000 people): headache, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea;
2. rare (may affect 1 to 10 users in 10): signs of hypersensitivity (eg rash, hives, itching), increase in liver enzymes (which may show up in blood tests);
3. very rare (may affect up to 1 in 10 people): severe skin reactions, erythema multiforme, characterized by a rash that may blister and look like small targets (central dark dots surrounded by a paler area with a dark ring around it) Stevens-Johnson syndrome- a severe, wide-ranging rash with blisters and peeling skin, especially around the mouth, nose, eyes and genitals.

If these symptoms occur, contact your doctor as soon as possible. By reporting any side effects and side effects of Zentel, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.

Zentel – drug interactions

Consult your doctor on the use of Zentel, especially if you are taking other medications at the same time, even if they are obtained without a prescription.

Some medications can affect the way Zentel works and you may need to change your dosage or stop taking it altogether. Some drugs may influence the action of Zentel by lowering the plasma concentration of the active metabolite of its active substance and increasing the plasma concentration of the active metabolite of albenazole.

Be especially careful and inform your doctor immediately if you are taking medications such as:

1. cimetidine (used to treat stomach ulcers);
2. praziquantel (used to treat worm infections);
3. phenobarbital (used as an anticonvulsant, sedative and hypnotic drug);
4. dexamethasone (used to treat inflammation and allergies);
5. carbamazepine (used to treat epilepsy and bipolar disorder);
6. phenytoin (used to treat epilepsy);
7. ritonavir (used to treat HIV infection).

It is suspected that these drugs may reduce the effectiveness of Zentel, and in the case of combination therapy, the effects of the treatment should be monitored and, if necessary, the doses should be changed.

You should inform your doctor if you are taking or have recently stopped taking any of these medicines in order for your doctor to effectively adjust your dose, so that the treatment with Zentel is of the best possible benefit.