Coadministration Dosing Regimens for Albendazole and Ivermectin in Adults and Children
Preventive chemotherapy regimens that coadminister ivermectin with albendazole use a single annual treatment dose. [1]
Dosing Regimen for Coadministration in Adults and Children
Mass drug administration dosing for lymphatic filariasis
- Albendazole 400 mg orally as a single dose is given with ivermectin 200 mcg/kg orally as a single dose in countries with onchocerciasis co-endemicity. [1]
Dosing for Children When Coadministration Is Used in Refugee Presumptive-Treatment Protocols
- Albendazole 200 mg orally as a single dose is given for children aged 12–23 months. [2]
- Albendazole 400 mg orally as a single dose is given for children aged >2 years. [2]
- Ivermectin 200 mcg/kg orally as a single dose is used for strongyloidiasis presumptive treatment. [2]
- Presumptive ivermectin treatment should not be used if the child weighs ≤15 kg. [2]
Contraindications and Key Precautions
Contraindications for Albendazole
- Known cysticercosis or neurocysticercosis is a contraindication to presumptive albendazole therapy. [2]
- Seizures or neurologic disorders of unknown etiology are contraindications to presumptive albendazole therapy. [2]
- Albendazole is contraindicated in children <1 year of age. [2]
- Pregnancy is a contraindication to presumptive albendazole therapy. [2]
- Known hypersensitivity or allergy is a contraindication to presumptive albendazole therapy. [2]
Contraindications for Ivermectin
- Presence of Loa loa microfilaremia is a contraindication to presumptive ivermectin therapy. [2]
- Ivermectin is contraindicated for children weighing <15 kg. [2]
- Pregnancy is a contraindication to presumptive ivermectin therapy. [2]
- Breastfeeding an infant <1 week old is a contraindication to presumptive ivermectin therapy. [2]
- Known hypersensitivity or allergy is a contraindication to presumptive ivermectin therapy. [2]
Important Programmatic Considerations
- A relative contraindication to presumptive ivermectin includes confirmed or suspected concomitant Loa loa infection, because treatment in persons with high Loa loa microfilarial load is associated with risk of fatal encephalopathy. [2]
- Presumptive albendazole is contraindicated in known cysticercosis or neurocysticercosis, and seizures or unexplained neurologic disorders are treated as possible neurocysticercosis until evaluation. [2]