Pharmacokinetic investigation of albendazole and praziquantel in Thai children infected with Giardia intestinalis.

Author(s): Pengsaa K, Na-Bangchang K, Limkittikul K, Kabkaew K, Lapphra K, Sirivichayakul C, Wisetsing P, Pojjaroen-Anant C, Chanthavanich P, Subchareon A

Affiliation(s): Department of Tropical Pediatrics, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, 420/6 Ratchawithi Road, Ratthewee, Bangkok 10400, Thailand. tmkps@mahidol.ac.th

Publication date & source: 2004-06, Ann Trop Med Parasitol., 98(4):349-57.

Publication type: Clinical Trial; Randomized Controlled Trial

The pharmacokinetics of albendazole/albendazole sulphoxide and praziquantel were investigated in Thai children with Giardia infection. Twenty school-age children were randomly allocated to receive either a single oral dose of albendazole (400 mg/child) or the same dose of albendazole given concurrently with a single oral dose of praziquantel (20 mg/kg). The concentrations of albendazole/albendazole sulphoxide and praziquantel in plasma samples, collected at intervals in the first 24 h post-treatment, were then quantified using HPLC with ultra-violet detection. No significant pharmacokinetic interaction between the albendazole and praziquantel was demonstrated. For albendazole sulphoxide, the active metabolite of albendazole, there was marked inter-individual variation in the maximum plasma concentration and the 'area under the curve'. The pharmacokinetics of albendazole sulphoxide were similar whether albendazole was given alone or in combination with praziquantel.