[Durgical](https://durgical.com/en/) › [DurgiPedia](https://durgical.com/en/durgipedia/) › [Pharmacology](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/) › [Anthelmintics](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/classes/anthelmintics/) › Mebendazole [Pharmacology](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/) · [Anthelmintics](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/classes/anthelmintics/) # Mebendazole A benzimidazole that is barely absorbed: it acts in the gut lumen against roundworm, whipworm, hookworm and pinworm. Updated 2026-11-01 - Class: [Anthelmintics](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/classes/anthelmintics/) - Target: Helminth β-tubulin (colchicine site) - ATC code: P02CA01 - WHO Model List of Essential Medicines ◆**Helminth β-tubulin (colchicine site)**Mebendazole ⓘ The figure shows mebendazole itself bound to bovine tubulin at the colchicine site; in the worm it binds the same β-tubulin site, with higher affinity than for mammalian tubulin. **Target in 3D:** Helminth β-tubulin (colchicine site). PDB structure 7ODN (RCSB PDB, public domain). [View the structure at RCSB PDB](https://www.rcsb.org/structure/7ODN) · Drag to rotate · pinch to zoom ## Mechanism of action It binds worm β-tubulin and stops microtubules from forming. The parasite's intestinal cells stop taking up glucose, its energy runs out and the worm dies and is expelled. Because so little is absorbed, it acts mainly in the gut lumen. - Reaches the gut lumen almost intact - Binds worm β-tubulin - No microtubules and no glucose uptake - The worm runs out of energy and is expelled ## Pharmacokinetics **Absorption** Very low orally, from poor absorption and extensive first-pass metabolism **Distribution** The little that is absorbed is highly bound to plasma proteins **Metabolism** Extensive liver metabolism to metabolites without anthelmintic activity **Elimination** Almost all in faeces; a tiny fraction in urine ## Indications - Soil-transmitted helminthiasis: ascariasis, trichuriasis and hookworm, single or mixed [Soil-transmitted helminthiasis (ascariasis, hookworm, trichuriasis) →](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/soil-transmitted-helminthiasis/) - Mass deworming of children and women in endemic areas (WHO) [Soil-transmitted helminthiasis (ascariasis, hookworm, trichuriasis) →](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/soil-transmitted-helminthiasis/) - Pinworm (Enterobius vermicularis) ## Adverse effects ### Common - Abdominal pain and diarrhoea, mainly in heavy infections as worms are expelled - Nausea, vomiting and loss of appetite - Rash and hives (uncommon) ### Serious (rare, important) - Angioedema and severe allergic reactions (rare) - Seizures (very rare) - Neutropenia and agranulocytosis with long, high-dose treatment - Raised liver enzymes and hepatitis with long, high-dose treatment ## Contraindications - Hypersensitivity to mebendazole - First trimester of pregnancy (not recommended in pregnancy outside WHO programmes) ## Key interactions **Cimetidine** May inhibit its metabolism and raise its blood levels ## What is monitored - In prolonged treatment: periodic blood count and liver function - Laboratory tests to check the response to treatment ## Administration and safety - Oral chewable tablet. - Does not work for hydatid disease or Strongyloides: confirm the indication. - Name looks like albendazole: they are not interchangeable for tissue infections. ## Nursing care - Hygiene teaching: frequent handwashing to prevent reinfection and spread. - Ask about pregnancy before giving it. - Report seizures, rash, hives, difficulty breathing, or fever with sore throat. - In pinworm, explain that reinfection is common and household hygiene matters. ## Pregnancy and breastfeeding Embryotoxic in rats and the label does not recommend it in pregnancy; WHO uses it for deworming pregnant women in the second and third trimesters. ## Memory aid MEBENdazole stays at the «MEBEN table of the gut»: barely absorbed, so it treats lumen worms, not tissue cysts. ## Test yourself Think of the answer, then tap the question to see it. ## Why does mebendazole not work for hydatid disease? Because it is barely absorbed: it acts in the gut lumen and does not reach tissue cysts well. ## Which soil-transmitted helminths does mebendazole treat? Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura and hookworms, as well as Enterobius vermicularis. ## Which drug can raise mebendazole levels? Cimetidine, which may inhibit its metabolism. [Add to my cards (3)](https://durgical.app/estudiar/?add=/en/pharmacology/mebendazole/) ## Related drugs - [Albendazole](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/albendazole/) - [Ivermectin](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/ivermectin/) ## Related conditions - [Soil-transmitted helminthiasis (ascariasis, hookworm, trichuriasis)](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/soil-transmitted-helminthiasis/) [← Back to the class: Anthelmintics](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/classes/anthelmintics/) Educational content on how drugs work; not a prescribing guide and no substitute for a health professional's advice. No doses are given. Sources: [DailyMed - MEBENDAZOLE tablet, chewable](https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=fa778759-2b9a-4446-ba06-d3c486019e79) (DailyMed (U.S. National Library of Medicine), 2026); [Mebendazole: MedlinePlus Drug Information](https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a682315.html) (MedlinePlus (U.S. National Library of Medicine), 2025); [Soil-transmitted helminth infections](https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/soil-transmitted-helminth-infections) (World Health Organization, 2023); Goodman & Gilman's The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics, 14th ed., ch. 68 (McGraw Hill, 2023). ## **Spotted a mistake?** We are always improving for the community. Tell us what is wrong and our team will review it. Report a mistake Representative model, for educational purposes only. --- Source: https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/mebendazole/ License: CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Cite as: DurgiPedia (durgical.com), https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/mebendazole/