Albendazole Uses: What It Treats and How It Works

When you hear albendazole, a broad-spectrum antiparasitic drug used to treat worm infections in humans and animals. Also known as Albenza, it's one of the most common medicines doctors turn to when parasites take hold. It doesn’t just kill one type of worm—it works against a whole family of them. If you’ve ever had a stomach bug that didn’t go away, or if your doctor found eggs in a stool sample, albendazole might’ve been the solution.

It’s not just for kids. Adults get parasitic infections too—especially if you’ve traveled, eaten undercooked meat, or lived in areas with poor sanitation. roundworms, intestinal worms like Ascaris that can grow up to a foot long and cause bloating, nausea, or even blockages are a top target. So are tapeworms, long, flat parasites that live in your gut after eating contaminated meat, often leading to weight loss or digestive issues. Albendazole stops these worms from absorbing glucose, starving them until they die and pass out of your system.

It’s also used for more serious cases, like hydatid disease, a condition caused by dog tapeworm larvae that form cysts in the liver or lungs, sometimes requiring surgery alongside drug treatment. And for neurocysticercosis, when pork tapeworm larvae invade the brain, causing seizures, albendazole is often part of the treatment plan—used with steroids to reduce dangerous swelling.

People don’t always realize how common these infections are. In some parts of the world, over half the population carries worms. Even in the U.S., cases pop up in rural areas, among travelers, or in households with pets that haven’t been dewormed. Albendazole is often the first line of defense because it’s cheap, effective, and usually taken in just one or two doses.

But it’s not a magic pill. Side effects like stomach upset, dizziness, or headache can happen. And if you’re pregnant, have liver disease, or are on other meds, your doctor needs to know before you take it. It’s not something to grab off a shelf—always get a proper diagnosis first.

The posts below show how albendazole fits into real-world health scenarios—from treating kids with pinworms to managing chronic infections in adults. You’ll find practical advice on dosing, what to expect after taking it, and how to avoid reinfection. No fluff. Just what works, based on real cases and medical guidance.