Niclosamide

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Niclosamide
Systematic (IUPAC) name
?
Identifiers
CAS number	50-65-7
ATC code	P02DA01
PubChem	4477
Chemical data
Formula	C13H8Cl2N2O4
Mol. weight	327.119
Pharmacokinetic data
Bioavailability	?
Metabolism	?
Half life	?
Excretion	?
Therapeutic considerations
Pregnancy cat.	?
Legal status
Routes	?

Niclosamide (Niclocide®) is a teniacide ("tenia-" referring to tapeworm) in the Anthelmintic family especially effecive against cestodes that infect humans.

It is stressed that while anthelmintics are a drug familiy used to treat worm infections, Niclosamide is used specifically to treat tapeworms and is not effective against worms such as pinworms or roundworms.

It is a chewable tablet taken orally, dosage depending on type of worm and patient's age and/or weight.

Niclosamide molecules are lethal to tapeworms upon contact.

[edit] Side Effects

The medication can have side effects such as abdominal pain, anorexia, diarrhea, and emesis. Rarely, dizziness, skin rash, drowsiness, perianal itching, and an unpleasant taste.

[edit] Mechanism of Action

According to an article in Nature (Reference = Nature. 1969 Mar 15;221(185):1016-8. Mechanism of action of reagents that uncouple oxidative phosphorylation. Weinbach EC, Garbus J. PMID: 4180173 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]), niclosamide uncouples oxidative phosphorylation in the tapeworm.

[edit] References

Taber's Cyclopedic Medical Dicitionary, FA Davis Company, Philadelphia 2000

Additional Medication Information:Medline

Also - http://www.drugs.com/cons/Niclosamide.html