Biltricide

Praziquantel, also known and sold under the trade name of Biltricide, belongs to a group of drugs known as anthelmintics. Anthelmintics are used in the treatment of infections caused by parasites.

It is considered to work by paralyzing the parasites, which helps with their removing from the body, either while still in the intestines or through the stool.

By removing the parasites, the life quality is increased. This medication is in the form of a tablet, taken orally.

Before you agree to the treatment with this medication, it is essential to get informed about the expected beneficial effects, as well as, about the potential side effects and risks.

For the decision to be made, the beneficial effects must outweigh the potential risks. This is a decision that you and your doctor, together, will have to make.

During the consultations, inform the doctor about:

Allergies – Inform the doctor about any allergic reactions to any kind of medications, prescribed or no prescribed. Also, inform the healthcare professional about any allergic reaction to any specific type of food, dye, fabric and etc.

Pediatric – Proper studies done have shown that there are no age-connected risks when this medication has been used in pediatric patients. However, there are no studies done that would confirm the safety of this medication to be used in children younger than 4 years of age.

Because of this, when needed to be used within children younger than 4 years of age, the beneficial effects must outweigh the potential risks.

Geriatric – Proper studies done have shown that there are no age-connected risks when this medication has been used in geriatric patients. However, it is proven that there is an increased sensitivity as well as age-connected kidney problems within the elderly, and because of this, the medication must be used with extra caution.

Pregnancy – Inform the doctor if you are currently pregnant or have any plans about pregnancy in the near future. There are no studies that would confirm the safety of this medication to be used during pregnancy. Because of this, it should be used only in cases where the beneficial effects outweigh the potential risks.

Breastfeeding – Proper studies done have confirmed that this medication is extracted in the milk and that there is a risk to the infant. Because of this, this medication should be used only in cases where the beneficial effects outweigh the potential risks.

Drug interactions – Inform the doctor if you are currently using any other medications, prescribed or no prescribed, even vitamins and herbal tea. This is important because certain medication shouldn’t be used in a combination with others, due to the possibility that certain interactions could occur.

However, sometimes the doctor may decide to use a certain type of a combination, including two or more medications to treat your combination, if he or she considers that combination to prove as beneficial regarding your condition.

Other interactions – Certain medications should not be used in a combination with food, tobacco and alcohol. Because of this, it is important to get informed if there is a need for you to follow a specific type of diet and discontinue your use of tobacco and/or alcohol during the treatment.

Other medical problems – Inform the doctor about your medical history, any other medical problems and conditions from the past or at the moment. Especially, inform the doctor if there are any of the following conditions present – heart disease, heart rhythm problems, kidney disease, liver disease, seizures, worm cysts in the eye, or worm cysts in the brain.

For proper use, follow the directions given by your doctor. This medication is in the form of a tablet, taken orally. Take the tablets whole, with water.

The tablets have a bitter taste that could cause vomiting and nausea to occur, especially if you chew or break the tablet in the mouth. Do not crush, break or chew the tablet.

The dose is individual for every patient, prescribed by the doctor and based on your condition, weight and the prognosis of the treatment. This medication is usually taken 3 times a day.

In order to get the most beneficial effects from its use, take each dose regularly. If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember.

Do not double to catch up. This medication is harmful if there is an overdose. If an overdose is suspected, inform the doctor as soon as possible for further directions.

Visit your doctor at your scheduled appointments, so that he or she would be able to track your condition and make any adjustments if necessary.

These adjustments may refer to the dose – e.g. the doctor may decide to increase or decrease the dose, or to the treatment itself – the doctor may decide to discontinue the treatment if there are any serious side effects present that would worsen your condition, or if your condition does not improve.

Inform the doctor about any allergic reaction to any kind of medications, prescribed or no prescribed. This is important because this medication may contain inactive substances that could cause certain interactions to occur.

Inform the doctor if you are currently pregnant. The doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication, due to the lack of studies that would confirm the safety of this medication to be used during pregnancy.

The doctor may advise you to start using a proven form of birth control to help prevent pregnancy during the treatment. Inform the doctor if you are currently breastfeeding.

Due to the studies that confirm the risk to the infant, this medication is not recommended to be used in nursing mothers. However, if the beneficial effects outweigh the potential risks, the medical may be used, but on the day of the treatment, breastfeeding is not allowed.

This medication may make you dizzy or drowsy during the treatment, until the day after the treatment. Avoid driving and any other activities that require alertness until you could perform these activities with alertness.

Along with its needed beneficial effects, there are potential side effects that could occur. These side effects do not occur within all patients, also they could be mild or more serious.

However, it is essential to get informed about the potential side effects, so that you would be able to notice their presence and inform the doctor as soon as possible for further directions.

Common side effects – a headache, dizziness, stomach pain, nausea, tiredness, weakness, joint/muscle pain, loss of appetite, vomiting, and sweating. These side effects are common and are not considered as serious. However, if their presence persists or worsens, inform the doctor right away.

Serious side effects – bloody diarrhea, fever, irregular/slow heartbeats, or seizures. These side effects are serious, and their presence must be reported to the doctor as soon as possible.

A very serious allergic reaction is rare, but if you notice any of the following symptoms inform the doctor as soon as possible – skin rash, itching/swelling of the hands/feet/tongue/face, trouble breathing, or severe dizziness.