(pray zi KWON tel)
Helminths: Treatment of infections caused by the following: All species of Schistosoma (eg, Schistosoma mekongi, S. japonicum, S. mansoni, S. hematobium) and the liver flukes Clonorchis sinensis/Opisthorchis viverrini
Hypersensitivity to praziquantel or any component of the formulation; ocular cysticercosis; concomitant administration with strong cytochrome P450 (CYP450) inducers, such as rifampin
Schistosomiasis: Oral: 20 mg/kg/dose 3 times daily at 4- to 6-hour intervals for 1 day
Clonorchiasis/opisthorchiasis: Oral:
Manufacturer 's labeling: 25 mg/kg/dose 3 times daily at 4- to 6-hour intervals for 1 day
Alternate recommendations (off-label dose): 25 mg/kg/dose 3 times daily for 2 days (Drugs for Parasitic Infections 2013)
Cysticercosis (off-label use): Oral: 50 mg/kg/day divided every 8 hours for 14 days (Takayanagui, 2004)
Tapeworms (off-label use): Oral: 5-10 mg/kg as a single dose (25 mg/kg for Hymenolepis nana) (Liu, 1996)
Refer to adult dosing.
Children ≥4 years and Adolescents: Refer to adult dosing.
No dosage adjustment necessary.
There are no dosage adjustments provided in manufacturer 's labeling. However, total drug exposure in moderate-to-severe impairment is increased.
Administer tablets with water during meals. Tablets should be promptly swallowed to avoid bitter taste that may cause gagging or vomiting. Tablets may be halved or quartered; do not chew.
Store below 30 ‚ °C (86 ‚ °F).
Excipient information presented when available (limited, particularly for generics); consult specific product labeling.
Tablet, Oral:
Biltricide: 600 mg [scored]
Aminoquinolines (Antimalarial): May decrease the serum concentration of Anthelmintics. Monitor therapy
Aprepitant: May increase the serum concentration of CYP3A4 Substrates. Monitor therapy
Bosentan: May decrease the serum concentration of CYP3A4 Substrates. Monitor therapy
Ceritinib: May increase the serum concentration of CYP3A4 Substrates. Management: Use of ceritinib with a narrow therapeutic index CYP3A substrate (e.g., alfentanil, cyclosporine, dihydroergotamine, ergotamine, fentanyl, pimozide, quinidine, sirolimus, tacrolimus) should be avoided when possible. Monitor therapy
Cimetidine: May increase the serum concentration of Praziquantel. Monitor therapy
Conivaptan: May increase the serum concentration of CYP3A4 Substrates. Avoid combination
CYP3A4 Inducers (Moderate): May decrease the serum concentration of CYP3A4 Substrates. Monitor therapy
CYP3A4 Inducers (Strong): May decrease the serum concentration of Praziquantel. Management: Avoid concomitant use of praziquantel with strong CYP3A4 inducers. Discontinue rifampin 4 weeks prior to initiation of praziquantel therapy. Rifampin may be resumed the day following praziquantel completion. Avoid combination
CYP3A4 Inhibitors (Strong): May increase the serum concentration of Praziquantel. Monitor therapy
Dabrafenib: May decrease the serum concentration of CYP3A4 Substrates. Management: Seek alternatives to the CYP3A4 substrate when possible. If concomitant therapy cannot be avoided, monitor clinical effects of the substrate closely (particularly therapeutic effects). Consider therapy modification
Dasatinib: May increase the serum concentration of CYP3A4 Substrates. Monitor therapy
Deferasirox: May decrease the serum concentration of CYP3A4 Substrates. Monitor therapy
Fosaprepitant: May increase the serum concentration of CYP3A4 Substrates. Monitor therapy
Fusidic Acid (Systemic): May increase the serum concentration of CYP3A4 Substrates. Avoid combination
Grapefruit Juice: May increase the serum concentration of Praziquantel. Monitor therapy
Idelalisib: May increase the serum concentration of CYP3A4 Substrates. Avoid combination
Ivacaftor: May increase the serum concentration of CYP3A4 Substrates. Monitor therapy
Luliconazole: May increase the serum concentration of CYP3A4 Substrates. Monitor therapy
MiFEPRIStone: May increase the serum concentration of CYP3A4 Substrates. Management: Minimize doses of CYP3A4 substrates, and monitor for increased concentrations/toxicity, during and 2 weeks following treatment with mifepristone. Avoid cyclosporine, dihydroergotamine, ergotamine, fentanyl, pimozide, quinidine, sirolimus, and tacrolimus. Consider therapy modification
Netupitant: May increase the serum concentration of CYP3A4 Substrates. Monitor therapy
Osimertinib: May increase the serum concentration of CYP3A4 Substrates. Osimertinib may decrease the serum concentration of CYP3A4 Substrates. Monitor therapy
Palbociclib: May increase the serum concentration of CYP3A4 Substrates. Monitor therapy
Siltuximab: May decrease the serum concentration of CYP3A4 Substrates. Monitor therapy
Simeprevir: May increase the serum concentration of CYP3A4 Substrates. Monitor therapy
St Johns Wort: May decrease the serum concentration of CYP3A4 Substrates. Management: Consider an alternative for one of the interacting drugs. Some combinations may be specifically contraindicated. Consult appropriate manufacturer labeling. Consider therapy modification
Stiripentol: May increase the serum concentration of CYP3A4 Substrates. Management: Use of stiripentol with CYP3A4 substrates that are considered to have a narrow therapeutic index should be avoided due to the increased risk for adverse effects and toxicity. Any CYP3A4 substrate used with stiripentol requires closer monitoring. Consider therapy modification
Tocilizumab: May decrease the serum concentration of CYP3A4 Substrates. Monitor therapy
Liver function tests; monitor patients with cardiac irregularities during treatment; monitor for seizures; culture urine or feces for ova prior to instituting therapy
Frequency not defined. May be more frequent and/or serious in patients with a heavy worm burden.
Central nervous system: Dizziness, headache, malaise
Dermatologic: Urticaria
Gastrointestinal: Abdominal distress, nausea
Miscellaneous: Fever
<1% (Limited to important or life-threatening): Abdominal pain, atrioventricular block, bloody diarrhea, bradycardia, cardiac arrhythmia, ectopic beats, eosinophilia, hypersensitivity, hypersensitivity reaction, myalgia, paradoxical reaction (in schistosomiasis), polyserositis, pruritus, seizure, serum sickness (in schistosomiasis; Jarisch-Herxheimer-like reaction), skin rash, ventricular fibrillation, vomiting
Excretion may be delayed in patients with renal impairment, but accumulation of unchanged drug would not be expected.
Cmax, AUC, and half-life were significantly elevated in patients with moderate to severe liver impairment.
Disease-related concerns:
- Cardiovascular disease: Use with caution in patients with cardiac abnormalities.
- Cerebral cysticercosis: It is recommended to hospitalize patients with cerebral cysticercosis for the duration of treatment.
- Hepatic impairment: Use with caution in patients with moderate-to-severe hepatic impairment; reduced liver drug metabolism may result in higher and longer lasting plasma concentrations of unmetabolized praziquantel.
- Schistosomiasis: Praziquantel may not be effective against migrating shistosomulae; observational data indicate that praziquantel treatment in the acute phase of the infection may not prevent progression from asymptomatic to acute shistosomiasis, or from asymptomatic/acute disease to chronic disease. In addition, use in patients with shistosomiasis may be associated with clinical deterioration such as paradoxical reactions or serum sickness Jarisch-Herxheimer-like reactions, which is a sudden inflammatory immune response likely caused by the release of shistosomal antigens. Such reactions typically occur during the acute disease phase, and may lead to life-threatening events such as respiratory failure, encephalopathy, and/or cerebral vasculitis.
- Seizures: Use not recommended in patients with a history of seizures or signs of central nervous system involvement (eg, subcutaneous nodules suggestive of cysticercosis); may exacerbate condition.
Concurrent drug therapy issues:
- Drug/drug interactions: Potentially significant interactions may exist, requiring dose or frequency adjustment, additional monitoring, and/or selection of alternative therapy. Consult drug interactions database for more detailed information. Therapeutic levels of praziquantel may not be achieved with concurrent administration of strong inducers of cytochrome P450 (eg, rifampin); concurrent use is contraindicated.
Other warnings/precautions:
- Patient information: Patients should be instructed to not drive or operate machinery on the day of treatment and the day after treatment.
B
Adverse effects have not been observed in animal reproduction studies. Use in pregnant women only if clearly needed.
Increases the cell permeability to calcium in schistosomes, causing strong contractions and paralysis of worm musculature leading to detachment of suckers from the blood vessel walls and to dislodgment
Oral: 80%
CSF concentration is 14% to 20% of plasma concentration
Extensive first-pass effect; metabolized by the liver to hydroxylated and conjugated metabolites
Urine ~80% (>99% as metabolites)
Serum: 1-3 hours
Parent drug: 0.8-1.5 hours; Metabolites: 4.5 hours
~80%
- Discuss specific use of drug and side effects with patient as it relates to treatment. (HCAHPS: During this hospital stay, were you given any medicine that you had not taken before? Before giving you any new medicine, how often did hospital staff tell you what the medicine was for? How often did hospital staff describe possible side effects in a way you could understand?)
- Patient may experience headache or nausea. Have patient report immediately to prescriber seizures, severe dizziness, or passing out (HCAHPS).
- Educate patient about signs of a significant reaction (eg, wheezing; chest tightness; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; seizures; or swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat). Note: This is not a comprehensive list of all side effects. Patient should consult prescriber for additional questions.
Intended Use and Disclaimer: Should not be printed and given to patients. This information is intended to serve as a concise initial reference for health care professionals to use when discussing medications with a patient. You must ultimately rely on your own discretion, experience, and judgment in diagnosing, treating, and advising patients.