• Anthelmintic, topical

Thiabendazole (thye-a-BEN-da-zole) belongs to the family of medicines called anthelmintics ( ant-hel-MIN-tiks) . Anthelmintics are medicines used in the treatment of worm infections.

Thiabendazole topical preparations are used to treat a skin disease called cutaneous larva migrans (creeping eruption). Cutaneous larva migrans is caused by dog and cat hookworm larvae. These larvae cause slowly moving burrows or tunnels in the skin. This may result in itching, redness, or inflammation around the end of the burrows or tunnels.

Thiabendazole is available only with your doctor's prescription, in the following dosage form:

Topical
• Topical suspension

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of using the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For topical thiabendazole, the following should be considered:

Allergies—Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to thiabendazole. Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as preservatives or dyes.

Pregnancy—Thiabendazole may be absorbed through the skin. However, thiabendazole topical preparations have not been shown to cause birth defects or other problems in humans.

Breast-feeding—Thiabendazole may be absorbed through the mother's skin. However, thiabendazole topical preparations have not been shown to cause problems in nursing babies.

Children—Although there is no specific information comparing the use of thiabendazole in children with use in other age groups, this medicine is not expected to cause different side effects or problems in children than it does in adults.

Older adults—Many medicines have not been studied specifically in older people, Therefore, it may not be known whether they work exactly the same way they do in younger adults. Although there is no specific information comparing the use of thiabendazole in the elderly with use in other age groups, this medicine is not expected to cause different side effects or problems in older people than it does in younger adults.

Other medicines—Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. Tell your health care professional if you are using any other topical prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine that is to be applied to the same area of the skin.

Apply thiabendazole directly to, and about 5 to 7.5 cm (2 to 3 inches) around, the slowly moving end of each burrow or tunnel being made by the larva of the worm in the skin.

To help clear up your infection completely, use this medicine exactly as directed by your doctor for the full time of treatment . Do not miss any doses.

Dosing—

The dose of topical thiabendazole will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of topical thiabendazole. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

• For topical dosage form (suspension):
  • For cutaneous larva migrans:
    • Adults and children—Use two to four times a day for two to seven days.

Missed dose—

If you miss a dose of this medicine, apply it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule.

Storage—

To store this medicine:

• Keep out of the reach of children.
• Store away from heat and direct light.
• Keep the medicine from freezing.
• Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed. Be sure that any discarded medicine is out of the reach of children.

If your skin problem does not improve within a few days, or if the burrow or tunnel continues to get longer, check with your doctor.

There have not been any common or important side effects reported with this medicine when used on the skin. However, if you notice any side effects, check with your doctor.