Praziquantel

Praziquantel
Clinical data
Pronunciation/ˌpræzɪˈkwɒntɛl/
Trade namesBiltricide
AHFS/Drugs.comMonograph
MedlinePlusa608048
License data
Pregnancy
category
  • AU: B1
Routes of
administration		Human use: by mouth (tablets)
ATC code
Legal status
Legal status
Pharmacokinetic data
BioavailabilityRelatively small
MetabolismLiver
Elimination half-life0.8–1.5 hours (main metabolites: 4–5 hours)
ExcretionKidney (mainly)
Identifiers
  • (RS)-2-(Cyclohexylcarbonyl)-1,2,3,6,7,11b-hexahydro-4H-pyrazino[2,1-a]isoquinolin-4-one
CAS Number
PubChem CID
DrugBank
ChemSpider
UNII
KEGG
ChEMBL
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)
ECHA InfoCard100.054.126 Edit this at Wikidata
Chemical and physical data
FormulaC19H24N2O2
Molar mass312.413 g·mol−1
3D model (JSmol)
Melting point136 to 138 °C (277 to 280 °F)
  • O=C4N2C(c1c(cccc1)CC2)CN(C(=O)C3CCCCC3)C4
  • InChI=1S/C19H24N2O2/c22-18-13-20(19(23)15-7-2-1-3-8-15)12-17-16-9-5-4-6-14(16)10-11-21(17)18/h4-6,9,15,17H,1-3,7-8,10-13H2 checkY
  • Key:FSVJFNAIGNNGKK-UHFFFAOYSA-N checkY
  (verify)

Praziquantel (PZQ), sold under the brandname Biltricide among others, is a medication used to treat a number of types of parasitic worm infections in mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles, and fish.[3] In humans specifically, it is used to treat schistosomiasis, clonorchiasis, opisthorchiasis, tapeworm infections, cysticercosis, echinococcosis, paragonimiasis, fasciolopsiasis, and fasciolosis.[3] It should not be used for worm infections of the eye.[4] It is taken by mouth.[3]

Side effects in humans may include poor coordination, abdominal pain, vomiting, headache, and allergic reactions.[4] While it may be used during pregnancy, it is not recommended for use during breastfeeding.[4] Praziquantel is in the anthelmintic class of medications.[3] It works partly by affecting the function of the worm's sucker.[3]

Praziquantel was approved for medical use in the United States in 1982.[3] It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines.[5]

  1. ^ "Product monograph brand safety updates". Health Canada. February 2024. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
  2. ^ "Farnam Pet Press Release. TRUSTED D-WORM offers product for tapeworm management". Farnam Companies, Inc. Archived from the original on 14 October 2008. Retrieved 3 October 2016.
  3. ^ a b c d e f "Praziquantel". The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. Archived from the original on 20 December 2016. Retrieved 8 December 2016.
  4. ^ a b c World Health Organization (2009). Stuart MC, Kouimtzi M, Hill SR (eds.). WHO Model Formulary 2008. World Health Organization. pp. 88, 593. hdl:10665/44053. ISBN 9789241547659.
  5. ^ World Health Organization (2019). World Health Organization model list of essential medicines: 21st list 2019. Geneva: World Health Organization. hdl:10665/325771. WHO/MVP/EMP/IAU/2019.06. License: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO.