albendazole vs mebendazole
Side-by-side comparison of albendazole and mebendazole Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
Albenza
Emverm
Albendazole is a medicine that fights parasites. It is used to treat infections caused by tapeworms.
Emverm is a medicine used to treat worm infections in your gut. It kills the worms so your body can get rid of them.
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.
Emverm treats infections in your stomach and intestines caused by roundworm and whipworm. These worms can cause problems like stomach pain and diarrhea. This medicine helps get rid of these worms so you can feel better.
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.
Emverm stops the worms from using sugar. Without sugar, the worms die. Then your body can get rid of the dead worms.
- • Abnormal liver function tests
- • Abdominal pain
- • Nausea
- • Vomiting
- • Reversible hair loss
- • Loss of appetite
- • Stomach pain
- • Diarrhea
- • Gas
- • Feeling sick to your stomach
- The medicine did not work 365
- Using the medicine for a condition it's not approved for 284
- Fever 236
- Using the product for a condition it's not approved for 224
- Headache 222
- Baby exposed to drug during pregnancy 56
- Feeling sick to your stomach 48
- Throwing up 43
- Medicine not working 42
- Stomach pain 41
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.
In rare cases, infants under 1 year old have had seizures while taking this medicine. If you take high doses of this medicine for a long time, it can lower your blood cell counts. If you take metronidazole with this medicine, you could get a severe skin reaction. Do not take Emverm if you are allergic to any of its ingredients.
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.
Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Although studies haven't shown clear harm to the baby, it's important to discuss the risks and benefits. It is not known if this medicine passes into breast milk, so talk to your doctor if you are breastfeeding.
How to Read This albendazole vs mebendazole Comparison
albendazole is classified in the Antiparasitic (Benzimidazole) drug class, while mebendazole sits within the Antiparasitic (Benzimidazole) class. Because both drugs share the same classification, they are often considered interchangeable in theory — but clinical outcomes rarely track that cleanly. 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 1,331 submissions while mebendazole has 230. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume — not per-patient risk — so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. No direct interaction between these two drugs is listed in our FDA-derived dataset, though co-prescription still warrants pharmacist review. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.
A table cannot substitute for clinical judgment. Effectiveness, tolerability, drug-drug interactions with your other medications, kidney and liver function, pregnancy status, insurance formulary, and price all feed into a decision that only a licensed prescriber can make responsibly. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This page is for educational purposes only, is not medical advice, and should not be used to self-switch between albendazole and mebendazole — always consult your physician or pharmacist first.
Important: This comparison is for informational purposes only. Drug effects vary between individuals. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized medical advice.