Comparative Pharmacology
Head-to-head clinical analysis: HETRAZAN versus STROMECTOL.
Peer-Reviewed Evidence
Head-to-head clinical analysis: HETRAZAN versus STROMECTOL.
HETRAZAN vs STROMECTOL
Comparing the clinical profiles, pharmacokinetic behaviors, and safety indices of these two therapeutic agents.
Diethylcarbamazine (HETRAZAN) sensitizes microfilariae to phagocytosis by immobilizing them and altering their surface, making them more susceptible to destruction by host immune cells. It also has anthelminthic activity against adult worms.
Ivermectin acts by binding selectively and with high affinity to glutamate-gated chloride ion channels in invertebrate nerve and muscle cells, leading to increased permeability to chloride ions, hyperpolarization of nerve or muscle cells, and death of the parasite. It also interacts with other ligand-gated chloride channels, such as those gated by gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA).
2 mg/kg orally three times daily after meals for 3 weeks (total dose 120 mg/kg per course). Maximum single dose: 10 mg/kg.
Oral: 200 mcg/kg once daily for 1-2 days. For strongyloidiasis, 200 mcg/kg/day for 2 days. For onchocerciasis, single dose of 150 mcg/kg.
None Documented
None Documented
Terminal elimination half-life is 8-12 hours in patients with normal renal function; may be prolonged in renal impairment.
Terminal elimination half-life is approximately 18 hours (range 10–30 hours) in healthy subjects; prolonged in hepatic impairment.
Renal excretion of unchanged drug accounts for approximately 50-60% of elimination; the remainder is metabolized hepatically with metabolites excreted in urine. Fecal elimination is minimal (<5%).
Primarily fecal (90%) as unchanged drug and metabolites; renal excretion accounts for <1% of the dose.
Category C
Category C
Anthelmintic
Anthelmintic