Prescription medication · Antiparasitic (Benzimidazole)
albendazole
Also sold as Albenza. Albendazole treats infections caused by tapeworms.
Data updated 2026-05-15
- 1,829
- FDA reportsRarely reported
- 5
- InteractionsFew interactions
- $7.16
- Generic price (NADAC)
What the data shows
albendazole (Albenza) is a prescription Antiparasitic (Benzimidazole), among the least-reported drugs the FDA tracks (1,829 FDA reports), with 5 documented drug interactions.
Reporting volume reflects how widely a drug is used and studied, not how dangerous it is, a FAERS report documents a temporal association, never proof of cause.
albendazole (Albenza) is a prescription Antiparasitic (Benzimidazole). Albendazole treats infections caused by tapeworms.
Albendazole is a medicine that fights parasites. It is used to treat infections caused by tapeworms.
Verify with FDA → · CMS NADAC pricing →
Drug Pricing (NADAC)
Generic Price
$7.16/unit
Generic Available
Yes (5 manufacturers)
Pricing data from NADAC (CMS), effective December 18, 2024. Compare all drug costs →
NADAC price trail: ALBENDAZOLE 200 MG TABLET
Same CMS presentation as the headline generic unit price above (2 effective dates). Adjacent % compares consecutive NADAC releases for this description only, not a patient out-of-pocket quote. Latest step: -1.6% vs prior release.
| Effective | NADAC / unit | vs prior | NDCs |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 17, 2024 | $7.28/EA | - | 1 |
| December 18, 2024 | $7.16/EA | -1.6% | 5 |
What it does
Albendazole treats infections caused by tapeworms.
Common side effects
Abnormal liver function tests, Abdominal pain, Nausea
Key warnings
Albendazole can cause bone marrow suppression, which can be fatal.
The sections below are summarized in plain English from albendazole's FDA-approved prescribing information. They describe what the official label says, and are not personal medical advice.
How It Works
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.
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 1,829 FDA adverse event reports.
Most-reported reactions
Adverse reactions in FAERS for albendazole, by number of reports
- Pyrexia
Pyrexia
236 reports
- Headache
Headache
222 reports
- Condition Aggravated
Condition Aggravated
213 reports
- Fatigue
Fatigue
167 reports
- Weight Decreased
Weight Decreased
166 reports
- Rash
Rash
165 reports
- Pain
Pain
164 reports
- Somnolence
Somnolence
159 reports
- Haematochezia
Haematochezia
157 reports
- Rectal Haemorrhage
Rectal Haemorrhage
149 reports
What this shows Bars show how often each reaction was reported, not how likely it is to happen, a report records a temporal association, never proof that the drug caused it.
Reports over time
Adverse-event reports filed for albendazole each year to the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS).
Year-to-year volume tracks usage, prescribing, and scrutiny, not a change in per-patient risk. Source: FDA FAERS.
Where albendazole sits
albendazole has more FDA adverse-event reports than 11% of the drugs FAERS tracks. A high position reflects how widely a drug is used and watched, not how dangerous it is.
Percentile across all drugs PlainMeds tracks by FAERS report volume. The dot is albendazole; the line is the median (50th percentile).
FDA Adverse Event Report Analysis
Detailed analysis of 1,829 reports from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Reports span 2004–2025.
Total Reports
1,829
Reports Mentioning Death
302
16.5% of reports — not proof of cause
Hospitalization Reports
658
Top Indication
Product Used For Unknown Indication
Gender Distribution
Age Distribution
Most Reported Adverse Reactions (FAERS)
| # | Reaction | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | PYREXIA | 236 |
| 5 | HEADACHE | 222 |
| 6 | CONDITION AGGRAVATED | 213 |
| 7 | FATIGUE | 167 |
| 8 | WEIGHT DECREASED | 166 |
| 9 | RASH | 165 |
| 10 | PAIN | 164 |
| 11 | SOMNOLENCE | 159 |
| 12 | HAEMATOCHEZIA | 157 |
| 13 | RECTAL HAEMORRHAGE | 149 |
| 14 | COLITIS ULCERATIVE | 148 |
| 15 | STRESS | 148 |
| 16 | INAPPROPRIATE SCHEDULE OF PRODUCT ADMINISTRATION | 147 |
| 18 | STEROID DEPENDENCE | 147 |
| 19 | BRONCHIECTASIS | 146 |
Reactions in Death Reports
Reactions in Hospitalization Reports
Source: FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) Reports are voluntary and do not establish causation
Serious Warnings
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.
Known Drug Interactions
( 7.3 ) Theophylline: Albendazole induces cytochrome P450 1A in human hepatoma cells; therefore, it is recommended that plasma concentrations of theophylline be monitored during and after treatment. 7.4 Theophylline Following a single dose of albendazole (400 mg), the pharmacokinetics of theophylline (aminophylline 5.8 mg/kg infused over 20 minutes) were unchanged. Albendazole induces cytochrome P450 1A in human hepatoma cells; therefore, it is recommended that plasma concentrations of theophylline be monitored during and after treatment.
Mechanism: Albendazole can make your liver work faster to clear theophylline from your body, which could make the theophylline less effective.
( 7.2 ) Cimetidine: Increased albendazole sulfoxide concentrations in bile and cystic fluid by about 2-fold in hydatid cyst patients. 7.3 Cimetidine Albendazole sulfoxide concentrations in bile and cystic fluid were increased (about 2-fold) in hydatid cyst patients treated with cimetidine (10 mg/kg/day) (n = 7) compared with albendazole (20 mg/kg/day) alone (n = 12).
Mechanism: Cimetidine interferes with how the body breaks down albendazole, which causes the drug levels to rise in certain body fluids.
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.
Mechanism: Dexamethasone increases the amount of the active form of albendazole that stays in your bloodstream.
In addition, carbamazepine causes, or would be expected to cause, decreased levels of the following drugs, for which monitoring of concentrations or dosage adjustment may be necessary: acetaminophen, albendazole, alprazolam, aprepitant, buprenorphone, bupropion, citalopram, clonazepam, clozapine, corticosteroids (e.g., prednisolone, dexamethasone), cyclosporine, dicumarol, dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers (e.g., felodipine), doxycycline, ethosuximide, everolimus, haloperidol, imatinib, itraconazole, lamotrigine, levothyroxine, methadone, methsuximide, mianserin, midazolam,...
Mechanism: Carbamazepine speeds up the way your body clears out albendazole. This means there may not be enough albendazole in your blood to treat your infection effectively.
Phenytoin when given with the combination of fosamprenavir and ritonavir may increase the concentration of amprenavir Calcium channel blockers Nifedipine, nimodipine, nisoldipine, verapamil Other Albendazole (decreases active metabolite), chlorpropamide, clozapine, cyclosporine, digoxin, disopyramide, folic acid, methadone, mexiletine, praziquantel, quetiapine a The effect of phenytoin on phenobarbital, valproic acid and sodium valproate serum levels is unpredictable 7.3 Drug/Laboratory Test Interactions Care should be taken when using immunoanalytical methods to measure serum phenytoin...
Mechanism: Phenytoin causes your body to process albendazole faster, which reduces the amount of the active medicine available to fight infection.
This is a plain-language summary of FDA-label interaction records and does not provide individual medication-combination directions.
Common Questions
Can I take albendazole without food?
How long will I need to take albendazole?
What should I do if I experience side effects?
Will albendazole interact with other medications I am taking?
Can I drink alcohol while taking albendazole?
What tests will I need while taking albendazole?
Can I breastfeed while taking albendazole?
What if I can't swallow the tablet?
Is there a generic version of albendazole?
How soon will I feel better after starting albendazole?
What are the common side effects of albendazole?
Does albendazole interact with other medications?
What drug class is albendazole?
What pregnancy or breastfeeding source fields are listed for albendazole?
Related Medications in Antiparasitic (Benzimidazole)
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Compare beyond drug class
Nationwide peers by FAERS volume & death-report share
Two PlainMeds-derived comparison paths for albendazole: nearest FDA FAERS report volume and nearest death-report share among drugs with at least 1,000 logged reports, excluding same-class neighbors listed above. Counts reflect reporting volume, not proven individual harm.
Similar FAERS report volume
Nearest drugs by total FAERS reports. This record: 1,829.
- plecanatide Δ 2 reports · Guanylate Cyclase-C Agonist 1,831reports
- levomilnacipran Δ 29 reports · Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitor (SNRI) 1,858reports
- netarsudil Δ 32 reports · Rho Kinase Inhibitor (Ophthalmic) 1,797reports
- brodalumab Δ 61 reports · Anti-IL-17 Receptor Monoclonal Antibody 1,890reports
Similar death-report share
Nearest drugs by FAERS death-report share. This record: 16.51%.
- piroxicam Δ 0.07 pts · 6,176 reports · Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug (NSAID) 16.58%death share
- glucagon Δ 0.07 pts · 3,944 reports · Glucagon (Hypoglycemia Rescue) 16.58%death share
- haloperidol Δ 0.07 pts · 23,495 reports · Typical Antipsychotic 16.58%death share
- aprepitant Δ 0.07 pts · 17,740 reports · NK1 Receptor Antagonist (Antiemetic) 16.58%death share
Medication Guides
Understanding Drug Interactions
How CYP450 enzymes, inhibitors, and inducers affect your medications
Generic vs Brand Name Drugs
FDA requirements, cost savings, and when the difference matters
Narrow Therapeutic Index Drugs
FDA bioequivalence and label-record context for narrow therapeutic index medicines
Common Drug Interactions
Dangerous medication combinations and how to protect yourself
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What the FDA Data Shows for albendazole
The FDA label for albendazole (sold under brand names such as Albenza) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the Antiparasitic (Benzimidazole) class. Albendazole treats infections caused by tapeworms. Official labeling lists 10 commonly reported side effects, including Abnormal liver function tests, Abdominal pain, Nausea.
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 1,829 voluntary reports. The database also lists 5 documented drug interactions derived from FDA labeling, with the top-flagged interaction rated minor severity. NADAC pricing from CMS shows a generic unit cost of $7.16.
Report counts do not establish causation, a FAERS entry documents a temporal association, not proof that the drug produced the outcome. Widely prescribed medications naturally accumulate more reports than niche therapies, so raw totals must be interpreted alongside total exposure. Shortage status, recall history, and patent information are separate source-record fields. This page is a public FDA/CMS registry and does not provide medical, treatment, substitution, or medication-change directions.
Data Sources
Drug labeling: FDA Drug Labels (SPL/DailyMed). Adverse events: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Pricing: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC).
FAERS reports are voluntary and do not establish causation. Drug interactions are derived from FDA labeling and clinical references. This registry does not provide medication decisions.
Last updated: September 30, 2019
PlainMeds is rendered directly from FDA openFDA/FAERS extracts, DailyMed labels, and CMS drug-pricing files, no number is typed in by an editor. FAERS counts, recalls, shortages, and price figures on this page are queried live from those federal extracts. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of 2026-05-15. Primary sources: openFDA / FAERS, DailyMed and CMS Part B ASP.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Data currency: FDA FAERS adverse-event reports through 2025, CMS NADAC acquisition-cost pricing effective December 2024, compiled from the source snapshot dated . See our methodology for per-source dates and refresh cadence. Spot a figure that looks wrong? Report a data issue.
All federal data sources used on this page
- FDA Orange Book - approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence. accessdata.fda.gov/cder/ob
- FDA DailyMed - NIH-hosted drug labeling for FDA-approved meds. dailymed.nlm.nih.gov
- FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) - post-marketing safety surveillance. fda.gov/drugs/faers
- NLM RxNorm - standardized clinical drug nomenclature. nlm.nih.gov/research/umls/rxnorm
- CMS Medicare Part B Drug Average Sales Price Files - federal drug pricing data. cms.gov/medicare/part-b-drugs/asp
- FDA Drug Shortages Database - current and resolved drug shortage tracking. accessdata.fda.gov/drugshortages