Vermox Tablets

Vermox 100mg Tablets

What are Vermox Tablets used for?

Vermox Tablets treat parasitic worm infections of the gut. They’re a threadworm treatment, also effective against other common worm infections.

Threadworms, also known as pinworms, are small worms that live in the gut. The main sign is itching around the anus, particularly at night, when the female worms lay their eggs. The scratching that follows makes it easy for the eggs to spread, so threadworms often pass between people in the same household. Washing your hands thoroughly after using the toilet and before eating or preparing food helps prevent the spread.

Vermox also treats other common gut worms. These include:

• Roundworm: Large worms that live in the intestines and are usually picked up by swallowing their eggs from contaminated food or soil
• Whipworm: Whip-shaped worms that settle in the large intestine after their eggs are swallowed
• Hookworm: Small worms that attach to the lining of the gut, often after the larvae pass through the skin from contaminated soil

Worms can affect anyone and picking them up has nothing to do with poor hygiene.

How do Vermox Tablets work?

Vermox Tablets contain an active ingredient called mebendazole, an anthelmintic that acts directly on the worms living in your gut. It stops them from taking up glucose, the sugar they depend on for energy. Without that fuel, the worms gradually use up their energy stores and die off. Once they die, they pass out of your body naturally in your stools, usually over a few days.

Because very little mebendazole is absorbed into the rest of your body, most of the medicine stays in your gut, which is exactly where the infection is.

Who can use Vermox Tablets?

Vermox Tablets are suitable for adults and children over 2 years of age.

Don’t take Vermox Tablets if you:

• Are allergic to mebendazole or any of the other ingredients
• Are pregnant, think you may be pregnant or might become pregnant

Speak to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Vermox Tablets if you:

• Are breastfeeding
• Are taking metronidazole, used for some infections
• Are taking cimetidine, used for excess stomach acid

How To Take Vermox Tablets

The correct dosage of Vermox Tablets for adults and children depends on the type of worm being treated. Take Vermox Tablets exactly as directed by your prescriber.

For threadworms, a single Vermox tablet will kill the infection. Your doctor may ask you to take a second tablet after two weeks in case of re-infection.

For other worm infections, such as whipworm, roundworm and hookworm, the usual dose is one tablet twice a day, in the morning and evening, for three consecutive days. Try to complete the full course of treatment, even if symptoms ease before the end.

You can chew the tablets or swallow them whole. For young children over 2 years old, crush the tablet first and always supervise them while they take it. There’s no need to use a laxative or change your diet.

Side Effects of Vermox Tablets

Like all medicines, Vermox Tablets can cause side effects, though not everyone gets them.

Common Side Effects

These may affect up to 1 in 10 people:

• Stomach pain

Uncommon Side Effects

These may affect up to 1 in 100 people:

• Stomach discomfort
• Diarrhoea
• Wind
• Feeling or being sick

Rare Side Effects

These may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people:

• Rash
• Inflammation of the liver
• Changes in liver enzymes, shown in blood tests
• Unusual hair loss
• Dizziness
• Inflammation of the kidneys, when used to treat certain tapeworm infections
• Reduction in white blood cells, which can make infections more likely, when used to treat certain tapeworm infections

Serious Side Effects

Stop taking Vermox Tablets and seek emergency medical attention if you notice signs of a severe allergic reaction or another serious reaction, such as:

• Sudden swelling of your face or throat
• Hives, severe irritation, reddening or blistering of the skin
• Blistering of the skin, mouth, eyes and genitals
• Fits (convulsions)

If you get any side effects not listed here, tell your doctor or pharmacist. You can also report side effects through the Yellow Card Scheme.

Vermox Tablets Ingredients

Active ingredient: Mebendazole 100mg per tablet

Other ingredients: Microcrystalline cellulose, sodium starch glycolate, talc, maize starch, sodium saccharin, magnesium stearate, hydrogenated cottonseed oil, orange flavour, colloidal anhydrous silica, sodium laurilsulfate and sunset yellow (E110)

Warnings and Precautions

• Vermox Tablets contain sunset yellow (E110), which may cause allergic reactions in some people.
• Each tablet contains a small amount of sodium (3.8mg), which is unlikely to cause problems at the recommended dose.
• Vermox should only be given to a child under 2 if a doctor has specifically prescribed it, as seizures have been reported in some children, including infants.
• Tell your doctor or pharmacist about any other medicines you’re taking, including anything bought without a prescription, herbal remedies and supplements.
• Vermox is unlikely to affect your ability to drive or use machines.
• Keep Vermox Tablets out of the sight and reach of children.
• Don’t use Vermox Tablets after the expiry date shown on the packaging.
• There are no special storage conditions for Vermox Tablets.
• Return any leftover tablets to your pharmacist rather than putting them in household waste or flushing them away.