Vermox ® Suspension

VERMOX ® suspension belongs to a group of medicines known as anthelmintics. It is used to treat worm infections of the gut, such as:

• Pinworm (Enterobius vermicularis);
• Whipworm (Trichuris trichiura);
• Roundworm (Ascaris lumbricoides);
• Hookworm (Ancylostoma duodenale; Necator americanus);
• Threadworm (Strongyloides stercoralis);
• Tapeworm (Taenia spp.);
• Moniliformis moniliformis;
• Ternidens deminutus.

Do not take VERMOX ® suspension:

• If you are hypersensitive (allergic) to mebendazole or any of the other ingredients of VERMOX ® suspension (see section 6).
• If you are pregnant (see Pregnancy, breastfeeding and fertility).
• If you are taking metronidazole (antibiotics used to treat bacterial infections).

VERMOX ® suspension should not be used in children below the age of 1 year.

Warnings and precautions

Take special care with VERMOX ® suspension:

• Convulsions (seizures) have been reported in children, including in infants, taking VERMOX ® suspension. Tell your doctor immediately if your child experiences any convulsion (seizure). VERMOX ® suspension should only be given to younger children if your doctor has specifically prescribed it. Your doctor will decide whether VERMOX ® suspension is suitable for your child. You must follow the doctor’s instructions carefully.

Do not share medicines with any other person. VERMOX ® suspension comes in the form of a suspension and should be taken by mouth. VERMOX ® suspension can be taken with or without food. The amount of VERMOX ® suspension you have to take will depend on the worm species you are infected with. If in doubt, consult with your doctor or pharmacist.

Children above the age of 1 year and adults take the same dose of VERMOX ® suspension, except for infestations with threadworm.

For common worm infections (whipworm; hookworm; large roundworm; pinworm; Ternidens deminutus; infestations by Moniliformis moniliformis)

Adults and children over the age of 1 year: One medicine measure (5 mL) twice daily (morning and evening) for three consecutive days.

For tapeworms

Adults and children over the age of 1 year: One medicine measure (5 mL) twice daily (morning and evening) for six consecutive days.

For threadworms

Adults: Two medicine measures (10 mL) twice daily (morning and evening) for three consecutive days. Children over the age of 1 year: One medicine measure (5 mL) twice daily (morning and evening) for three consecutive days.

You might have to take a second course of treatment if you are still infected three to four weeks after the first course. Do not exceed the recommended dosage. Always take VERMOX ® suspension exactly as described in this leaflet or as your doctor or pharmacist have told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.

If you have the impression that the effect of VERMOX ® suspension is too strong or too weak, tell your doctor or pharmacist.

Instructions for use of VERMOX ® suspension:

Shake the bottle before use. The bottle comes with a child-proof cap, and should be opened as follows:

1. Push the plastic screw cap down
2. While pressing down, turn the cap counterclockwise.

If you take more VERMOX ® suspension than you should If you have taken too much VERMOX ® suspension, you might experience stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. If you take VERMOX ® suspension for long periods at a time, or you take too much it can cause liver problems, kidney problems or may affect the amount of white blood cells in your body. In the event of an overdosage, consult your doctor or pharmacist. If neither is available contact the nearest hospital or poison centre. Take this leaflet and the rest of the remaining VERMOX ® suspension with you so the doctor will know what you have taken.

If you forget to take VERMOX ® suspension If you have missed a dose of VERMOX ® suspension, take the dose that you have missed as soon as you remember. However, if it is nearly time for the next dose, skip the missed dose, take the next dose at the scheduled time. Do not take a double dose to make up for forgotten individual doses.

VERMOX ® suspension can have side effects. Not all side effects reported for VERMOX ® suspension are included in this leaflet. Should your general health worsen or if you experience any untoward effects while taking VERMOX ® suspension, please consult your health care provider for advice.

If any of the following happens, stop taking VERMOX ® suspension and tell your doctor immediately or go to the casualty department at your nearest hospital:

• swelling of your hands, feet, ankles, face, lips, mouth or throat, which may cause difficulty in swallowing or breathing;
• rash, hives or itching;
• fainting.

These are all very serious side effects. If you have them, you may have had a serious allergic reaction to VERMOX ® suspension. You may need urgent medical attention or hospitalisation.

Tell your doctor immediately or go to the casualty department at your nearest hospital if you notice any of the following:

• frequent infections such as fever, severe chills, sore throat or mouth ulcers;
• fits (seizures);
• yellowing of your skin and eyes, dark urine, and tiredness which may be symptoms of liver problems;
• painful, blistering or peeling skin rash, such as Stevens-Johnson syndrome or toxic epidermal necrolysis;
• glomerulonephritis (kidney disease in which the part of your kidneys that helps filter waste and fluids from the blood is damaged causing puffiness in your face in the morning, blood in your urine, urinating less than usual).

These are all serious side effects. You may need urgent medical attention.

Tell your doctor if you notice any of the following:

Frequent side effects:

• abdominal pain.

Less frequent side effects:

• dizziness;
• nausea (feeling sick), vomiting (being sick), diarrhoea, flatulence (excess wind);
• hair loss (temporary).

If you notice any side effects not mentioned in this leaflet, please inform your doctor or pharmacist.

Reporting of side effects If you get side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. You can also report side effects to SAHPRA via the “6.04 Adverse Drug Reactions Reporting Form”, found online under SAHPRA’s publications: http://www.sahpra.org.za/Publications/Index/8. By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of VERMOX ® suspension.

• Store at or below 25 °C.
• Store all medicines out of reach of children.
• Keep well closed.
• Do not use after the expiry date printed on the label / carton.
• Return all unused medicine to your pharmacist.
• Do not dispose of unused medicine in drains and sewerage systems (e.g. toilets).