Types of medicine
What Is an Anthelmintic? How Worm Medicines Work
Anthelmintic · say it: ant-hel-MIN-tikAlso written: anthelminthic, dewormer, worm medicine, antihelminthic
Short answer
An anthelmintic is a medicine that kills or removes parasitic worms, such as roundworms, tapeworms and pinworms, from the body.
What it means
Helminths are parasitic worms that can live in the gut or other body tissues. Anthelmintics are medicines that kill them, paralyse them or stop them from feeding. Examples include albendazole, mebendazole, ivermectin and praziquantel. Each works against certain worms, so the right one depends on the infection.
Their labels explain which worms they treat and how long to take them. Some, such as albendazole, warn about effects on the blood count and liver with longer courses and about harm in pregnancy. When worms in the brain (neurocysticercosis) are treated, labels warn that dying worms can trigger inflammation and seizures, so steroids and seizure medicines may be given too. Household members may also need treatment for some infections, such as pinworm.
Anthelmintics are one kind of antiparasitic. Antimalarials and medicines for other single-celled parasites are different groups.
Where you may see it
- 'Indications' sections of albendazole, mebendazole, ivermectin and praziquantel labels
- Travel and tropical medicine clinic letters
- Stool test reports ('ova and parasites')
📄 How it looks on a report
Mebendazole is indicated for the treatment of gastrointestinal infections caused by pinworm, whipworm, roundworm and hookworm.
🙅 What it does not mean
- One dewormer does not treat every type of worm.
- It does not mean you will not be reinfected; hygiene matters too.
- It is not the same as an antibiotic.
🎯 Check yourself
Which of these is the right meaning of “Anthelmintic”?
🗒️ Questions to ask your doctor
💊 Medicines whose labels mention “Anthelmintic”
Plain-English explanations of each medicine, from its official FDA label.
- Albendazole
an anthelmintic drug, a medicine used to treat infections caused by parasitic worms
- Ivermectin
An antiparasitic medicine, sometimes called a worm-killing medicine (anthelmintic), that the FDA lists as an antiparasitic and pediculicide
🔗 Read more from trusted sources
- “Anthelmintic” on MedlinePlus ↗
US National Library of Medicine
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More words: types of medicine
General information about a medical word, not advice about your own results. Ask the clinician who ordered the test what it means for you.