title: Pharmacokinetic comparison of two albendazole dosage regimens in patients with neurocysticercosis.
abstract: To evaluate two different dosage regimens for albendazole (7.5 mg/kg twice a day or 5.0 mg/kg three times a day), a study was performed in 10 patients with a diagnosis of parenchymal brain cysticercosis. Each patient received both regimens sequentially according to a randomized, crossover design. Blood and urine samples were taken once the drug steady state had been reached. Plasma levels of albendazole sulfoxide at steady state were determined using a HPLC method. In spite of a great intersubject variability observed with both regimens in the area under the curve (AUC) and in the minimum steady-state plasma concentration (Cp min ss), no statistically significant differences were found in these parameters. We suggest that a regimen of 7.5 mg/kg every 12 h can favorably replace the currently used regimen of 5 mg/kg every 8 h.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Neuropharmacology, National Institute of Neurology and Neurosurgery of Mexico City, Mexico.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sánchez
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Suástegui
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: González-Esquivel
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sotelo
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jung
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015766:Albendazole / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000469:parasitology; D003551:Cysticercosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D015766:Albendazole