Antihelminthic Drugs: Impact, Challenges, and Efficacy

The document from 2014 reviews the impact of helminth infections on global health and the use of antihelminthic drugs to treat them. It highlights the challenges faced in mass drug treatment campaigns, including low coverage and potential drug resistance, though evidence of resistance in human populations is not definitive. The document details the side effects and efficacy of drugs like albendazole, diethylcarbamazine, and ivermectin, noting that albendazole can cause alopecia and psychosis. It also discusses the discontinuation of levamisole in the U.S. due to severe side effects, with 55 cases of vasculopathy from levamisole-adulterated cocaine reported. Mebendazole was found to cause diarrhea in 20% of participants in a trial, while praziquantel (PZQ) can lead to severe Jarish-Herxheimer-like reactions, with mild hypotension observed in some cases in a randomized study. Tribendimidine, approved in China, was noted for its high cure rates and fewer side effects compared to PZQ. The importance of ongoing research into drug resistance and comprehensive health strategies is emphasized.