Resources for Health Professionals

Treatment

Praziquantel*, adults, 5-10 mg/kg orally in a single-dose therapy; the dosage for children is the same.

(Note: praziquantel should be taken with liquids during a meal.)

Alternative:

Adults, niclosamide 2 gm orally once; children, 50 mg/kg (max 2 gm) orally once.

(Note: niclosamide must be chewed thoroughly or crushed and swallowed with a small amount of water.)

* Oral praziquantel is available for human use in the United States.

* Niclosamide is NOT available for human use in the United States.

*Not FDA-approved for this indication.

References

  • Praziquantel. Cestode (Tapeworm) Infections. In: AHFS Drug Information, McEvoy GK, Ed., American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Bethesda, MD , 2011.
  • Drugs for Parasitic Infections. Treatment Guidelines from the Medical Letter. Vol 8 (Suppl), 2010. The Medical Letter, Inc., New Rochelle, NY.
  • Scholz T, Garcia HH, Kuchta R, Wich B. Update on the human broad tapeworm (Genus Diphyllobothrium) including clinical relevance. Clin Microbiol Rev 2009;22:146-60.
  • Richards FO Jr. Diphyllobothrium species. In: Long SS, Pickering LK, Prober CG, Eds. Principals and Practices of Pediatric Infectious Diseases Revised Reprint, 3rd Ed, Churchill Livingston/Elsevier, Philadelphia, PA, 2009.
  • King CH, Fairley JK. Cestodes. In: Mandell GL, Bennett JE, Dolin R, Eds., Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett’s Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases, 7th Ed, Churchill Livingston/Elsevier, Philadelphia, PA, 2009.
  • Loukas A, Hotez PJ. Chemotherapy of helminth infections. In: Goodman & Gilman’s The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics, 11th Ed. McGraw-Hill, NY, 2006.
  • Harter A. Milestones of helmintic research at Bayer. Parasitol Res 2002;88:477-80.
  • Ohnishi K, Murata M. Praziquantel for the treatment of Diphyllobothrium nihonkaiense infections in humans. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg 1994;88:580.

This information is provided as an informational resource for licensed health care providers as guidance only. It is not intended as a substitute for professional judgment.

Praziquantel

Niclosamide

Page last reviewed: May 21, 2020