ALBENZA is an anthelmintic drug indicated for:

• Treatment of parenchymal neurocysticercosis due to active lesions caused by larval forms of the pork tapeworm, Taenia solium. (1.1)
• Treatment of cystic hydatid disease of the liver, lung, and peritoneum, caused by the larval form of the dog tapeworm, Echinococcus granulosus. (1.2)

Patients weighing 60 kg or greater, 400 mg twice daily; less than 60 kg, 15 mg/kg/day in divided doses twice daily (maximum total daily dose 800 mg). ALBENZA tablets and ALBENZA chewable tablets should be taken with food. (2)

• Hydatid disease: 28-day cycle followed by 14-day albendazole-free interval for a total of 3 cycles. (2)
• Neurocysticercosis: 8 to 30 days. (2)

See additional important information in the Full Prescribing Information. (2)

Patients with known hypersensitivity to the benzimidazole class of compounds or any components of ALBENZA. (4)
WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS

• Bone Marrow Suppression: Fatalities have been reported due to bone marrow suppression; monitor blood counts in all patients at the beginning of each 28-day cycle of therapy, and every 2 weeks while on therapy. Discontinue ALBENZA if clinically significant changes in blood counts occur. (5.1, 5.4)
• Teratogenic Effects: Obtain pregnancy test in women of reproductive potential prior to therapy and avoid usage in pregnant women except in clinical circumstances where no alternative management is appropriate. Discontinue therapy if pregnancy occurs and apprise patient of potential hazard to the fetus. (5.2)
• Risk of Neurologic Symptoms: Neurocysticercosis patients may experience cerebral hypertensive episodes, seizures or focal neurologic deficits after initiation of therapy; begin appropriate steroid and anticonvulsant therapy. (5.3)
• Risk of Retinal Damage in Retinal Cysticercosis: Cases of retinal involvement have been reported; examine the patient for the presence of retinal lesions before initiating therapy for neurocysticercosis. (5.4)
• Hepatic Effects. Elevations of liver enzymes may occur. Monitor liver enzymes before the start of each treatment cycle and at least every 2 weeks while on ALBENZA therapy and discontinue if clinically significant elevations occur. (5.5)

• Adverse reactions 1% or greater in hydatid disease: abnormal liver function tests, abdominal pain, nausea/vomiting, reversible alopecia, headache, dizziness/vertigo, fever. (6.1)
• Adverse reactions 1% or greater in neurocysticercosis: headache, nausea/vomiting, raised intracranial pressure, meningeal signs. (6.1)

To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Amedra Pharmaceuticals LLC at 1-888-894-6528 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.

• Dexamethasone: Steady-state trough concentrations of albendazole sulfoxide were about 56% higher when dexamethasone was coadministered with each dose of albendazole. (7.1)
• Praziquantel: In the fed state increased mean maximum plasma concentration and area under the curve of albendazole sulfoxide by about 50% in healthy subjects. (7.2)
• Cimetidine: Increased albendazole sulfoxide concentrations in bile and cystic fluid by about 2-fold in hydatid cyst patients. (7.3)
• Theophylline: Albendazole induces cytochrome P450 1A in human hepatoma cells; therefore, it is recommended that plasma concentrations of theophylline be monitored during and after treatment. (5.5, 7.4)