mebendazole
Brand names: Emverm
Emverm is a medicine used to treat worm infections in your gut. It kills the worms so your body can get rid of them.
Drug Pricing (NADAC)
Generic Price
$650.38/unit
Generic Available
Yes (0 manufacturers)
Pricing data from NADAC (CMS), effective December 18, 2024. Compare all drug costs →
What it does
Emverm treats infections in your stomach and intestines caused by roundworm and whipworm.
Common side effects
Loss of appetite, Stomach pain, Diarrhea
Key warnings
In rare cases, infants under 1 year old have had seizures while taking this medicine.
How It Works
Emverm stops the worms from using sugar. Without sugar, the worms die. Then your body can get rid of the dead worms.
How to Take It
Take one 500 mg Emverm tablet as a single dose. Chew the tablet completely before you swallow it. If you have trouble chewing, mix the tablet with 2-3 mL of water in a spoon. The tablet will soften in about 2 minutes and can then be swallowed. You can take this medicine with or without food.
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
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.
Missed Dose
Since Emverm is taken as a single dose, you don't have to worry about missing a dose.
Storage
Store below 30°C (86°F). Keep the bottle closed tightly and throw away any unused tablets 1 month after opening the bottle.
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 395 FDA adverse event reports.
FDA Adverse Event Report Analysis
Detailed analysis of 762 reports from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Reports span 2004–2025.
Total Reports
762
Death-Related Reports
54
Hospitalization Reports
181
Top Indication
Product Used For Unknown Indication
Gender Distribution
Age Distribution
Most Reported Adverse Reactions (FAERS)
| # | Reaction | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | FOETAL EXPOSURE DURING PREGNANCY | 56 |
| 2 | NAUSEA | 48 |
| 3 | VOMITING | 43 |
| 4 | DRUG INEFFECTIVE | 42 |
| 5 | ABDOMINAL PAIN | 41 |
| 6 | OFF LABEL USE | 38 |
| 7 | DIZZINESS | 36 |
| 8 | FATIGUE | 32 |
| 9 | DRUG EXPOSURE DURING PREGNANCY | 30 |
| 10 | ASTHENIA | 29 |
| 11 | DIARRHOEA | 29 |
| 12 | PYREXIA | 29 |
| 13 | HEADACHE | 28 |
| 14 | PRURITUS | 24 |
| 15 | EXPOSURE DURING PREGNANCY | 22 |
Reactions in Death Reports
Reactions in Hospitalization Reports
Source: FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) Reports are voluntary and do not establish causation
Serious Warnings
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.
Known Drug Interactions
albuterol, systemic and inhaled mebendazole amoxicillin medroxyprogesterone ampicillin, with or without sulbactam methylprednisolone atenolol metronidazole azithromycin metoprolol caffeine, dietary ingestion nadolol cefaclor nifedipine co-trimoxazole (trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole) nizatidine diltiazem norfloxacin dirithromycin ofloxacin enflurane omeprazole famotidine prednisone, prednisolone felodipine ranitidine finasteride rifabutin hydrocortisone roxithromycin isoflurane Sorbitol (purgative doses do not inhibit theophylline absorption) isoniazid sucralfate isradipine terbutaline, s...
Mechanism: This medicine does not interfere with the body's ability to process and remove theophylline from your system.
What to do: Your doctor does not need to adjust your theophylline dose, but you should still watch for any signs that your levels are too high.
7 DRUG INTERACTIONS Concomitant use of mebendazole and metronidazole should be avoided [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3) ] .
Mechanism: Using these two drugs together is linked to a higher risk of serious health problems.
What to do: Avoid taking these two medications at the same time.
Common Questions
Can I give this medicine to my baby?
What if I can't chew the tablet?
How long does it take for the medicine to work?
Can I take this medicine with other medicines?
What should I do if I get a rash?
How do I know if the medicine is working?
Can I drink alcohol while taking this medicine?
What if I accidentally swallow the tablet whole?
Can I get worms again after taking this medicine?
Is there a generic version of this medicine?
What are the common side effects of mebendazole?
Does mebendazole interact with other medications?
What drug class is mebendazole?
Is mebendazole safe during pregnancy?
Related Medications in Antiparasitic (Benzimidazole)
Other drugs grouped near mebendazole — same-class peers and common alternatives.
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amphotericin B
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Amphotericin B liposome is an antifungal medicine.
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atovaquone/proguanil
Malarone
Malarone is a drug used to prevent and treat malaria.
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What the FDA Data Shows for mebendazole
The FDA label for mebendazole (sold under brand names such as Emverm) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the Antiparasitic (Benzimidazole) class. Emverm treats infections in your stomach and intestines caused by roundworm and whipworm. Official labeling lists 7 commonly reported side effects, including Loss of appetite, Stomach pain, Diarrhea.
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 395 voluntary reports. The database also lists 2 documented drug interactions derived from FDA labeling, with the top-flagged interaction rated major severity. NADAC pricing from CMS shows a generic unit cost of $650.38.
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 further shape supply and switching decisions. This page summarizes public FDA data for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice — always consult a licensed healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
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. Always consult a healthcare professional before making medication decisions.
Last updated: October 5, 2021
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
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