albendazole vs dexamethasone

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Side-by-side comparison of albendazole and dexamethasone. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.

minor Known Drug Interaction

7 DRUG INTERACTIONS Dexamethasone: Steady-state trough concentrations of albendazole sulfoxide were about 56% higher when dexamethasone was coadministered with each dose of albendazole. ( 5.5 , 7.4 ) 7.1 Dexamethasone Steady-state trough concentrations of albendazole sulfoxide were about 56% higher when 8 mg dexamethasone was co-administered with each dose of albendazole (15 mg/kg/day) in 8 neurocysticercosis patients.

Drug Class
albendazole Antiparasitic (Benzimidazole)
dexamethasone Corticosteroid
Type
albendazole Prescription
dexamethasone Prescription
Summary
albendazole

Albendazole is a medicine that fights parasites. It is used to treat infections caused by tapeworms.

dexamethasone

Dexamethasone (Decadron) is a corticosteroid medicine. It helps reduce inflammation and suppress the immune system.

What It Treats
albendazole

Albendazole treats infections caused by tapeworms. It is used for neurocysticercosis, which is caused by pork tapeworm larvae in the brain. It also treats hydatid disease, caused by dog tapeworm larvae in the liver, lungs, and abdomen.

dexamethasone

This medicine treats many conditions, including allergies, skin problems, and breathing issues. It can also help with certain cancers, hormone problems, and nervous system disorders. Dexamethasone can also be used for short-term relief of arthritis and other joint problems.

How It Works
albendazole

Albendazole stops the tapeworms from growing and multiplying. It does this by blocking the worm's ability to use sugar (glucose). This eventually kills the parasite.

dexamethasone

Dexamethasone works by decreasing inflammation in the body. It also changes how your immune system works. This can help reduce symptoms of various conditions.

Common Side Effects
albendazole
  • Abnormal liver function tests
  • Abdominal pain
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Reversible hair loss
dexamethasone
  • Increased appetite
  • Weight gain
  • Fluid retention
  • Mood swings
  • Insomnia
FAERS Reports
albendazole
  • Pyrexia 236
  • Headache 222
  • Condition Aggravated 213
  • Fatigue 167
  • Weight Decreased 166
dexamethasone
  • Fatigue 16,525
  • Diarrhoea 16,515
  • Plasma Cell Myeloma 13,768
  • Nausea 13,495
  • Pneumonia 13,291
Serious Warnings
albendazole

Albendazole can cause bone marrow suppression, which can be fatal. Your doctor will check your blood counts before and during treatment. If your blood counts drop too low, you may need to stop taking albendazole. Albendazole can also harm an unborn baby, so women who can get pregnant should use birth control while taking it. If you are being treated for neurocysticercosis, you may experience seizures or other neurological problems. Your doctor may give you steroids and anti-seizure medicine to prevent these problems.

dexamethasone

If you have a systemic fungal infection, you should not take this medicine. Long-term use can also make it harder for your body to respond to stress.

Pregnancy
albendazole

Albendazole can harm an unborn baby. Women who can get pregnant should use effective birth control while taking albendazole and for one month after stopping the medicine. If you become pregnant while taking albendazole, tell your doctor right away.

dexamethasone

Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding before taking this medicine. Dexamethasone may harm an unborn baby. It can also pass into breast milk.

Also Compare, Nearby Drugs

How to Read This albendazole vs dexamethasone Comparison

albendazole is classified in the Antiparasitic (Benzimidazole) drug class, while dexamethasone sits within the Corticosteroid class. Drugs from different classes work through distinct mechanisms, so a head-to-head comparison illustrates trade-offs rather than equivalence. Both drugs are prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.

Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, albendazole has 1,004 submissions while dexamethasone has 73,594. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume, not per-patient risk, so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. These two drugs have a known minor interaction flagged in FDA labeling, attributed to dexamethasone increases the amount of the active form of albendazole that stays in your bloodstream.. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.

A table cannot represent individual circumstances. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This registry does not provide medical, treatment, substitution, or medication-change directions for albendazole or dexamethasone.

Registry boundary: This comparison displays source-record fields and does not provide individualized medical direction.