Last update Jan. 14, 2024

Diethylcarbamazine Citrate

Likely Compatibility

Fairly safe. Mild or unlikely adverse effects. Compatible under certain circumstances. Follow-up recommended. Read Commentary.

Diethylcarbamazine is an anthelmintic used to treat filarial infections such as Wuchereria bancrofti (bancroftian filariasis), Brugia malayi or Brugia timori (Malayan, Brugia and Timorian filariasis) and Loa loa. It is also used in the treatment of toxocariasis (visceral larva migrans). Oral administration.

At the time of the last update, we found no published data on its excretion in breast milk.

Its low molecular weight and low binding to plasma proteins facilitates excretion in breast milk, but its high volume of distribution makes it difficult.

Side effects are usually mild: dizziness, drowsiness, malaise, anorexia, headache, joint and muscle pain, nausea and vomiting. The incidence of serious adverse effects is very low, but they are common in people with a high parasite load, derived from the antigens released by the destruction of the parasites. (Pérez 2009, Porto 2003)

This drug is used in children under two years of age. (Hardy 2020)

Alternatives

  • Albendazole (Safe product and/or breastfeeding is the best option.)
  • Doxycycline (Fairly safe. Mild or unlikely adverse effects. Compatible under certain circumstances. Follow-up recommended. Read Commentary.)
  • Ivermectin (Safe product and/or breastfeeding is the best option.)

Suggestions made at e-lactancia are done by APILAM team of health professionals, and are based on updated scientific publications. It is not intended to replace the relationship you have with your doctor but to compound it. The pharmaceutical industry contraindicates breastfeeding, mistakenly and without scientific reasons, in most of the drug data sheets.

Jose Maria Paricio, Founder & President of APILAM/e-Lactancia

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Other names

Diethylcarbamazine Citrate in other languages or writings:

Group

Diethylcarbamazine Citrate belongs to this group or family:

Tradenames

Main tradenames from several countries containing Diethylcarbamazine Citrate in its composition:

List of 10 tradenames

Pharmacokinetics

Variable Value Unit
Oral Bioavail. Alta - Hig %
Molecular weight 391 daltons
Protein Binding < 10 %
VD 1.49 l/Kg
pKa 6.9 -
Tmax 1 - 2 hours
T½ 8 (2 - 13) hours

References

  1. Hardy M, Samuela J, Kama M, Tuicakau M, Romani L, Whitfeld MJ, King CL, Weil GJ, Grobler AC, Robinson LJ, Kaldor JM, Steer AC. The safety of combined triple drug therapy with ivermectin, diethylcarbamazine and albendazole in the neglected tropical diseases co-endemic setting of Fiji: A cluster randomised trial. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2020 Mar 16;14(3):e0008106. Abstract Full text (link to original source)
  2. Pérez JL, Carranza C, Mateos F. Antiparasitarios. Revisión de los fármacos útiles en el tratamiento de parasitosis clásicas y emergentes. \ [Antiparasitic drugs. Review of the useful drugs in the treatment of classic and emergent parasitic diseases]. Rev Esp Quimioter. 2009 Jun;22(2):93-105. Review. Spanish. Abstract Full text (link to original source) Full text (in our servers)
  3. Porto I. Antiparasitic drugs and lactation: focus on anthelmintics, scabicides, and pediculicides. J Hum Lact. 2003 Abstract

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