bephenium

Bephenium (commonly used as the salt bephenium hydroxynaphthoate) is a small molecule anthelmintic drug formerly used for the treatment of hookworm and roundworm infections, including *Ancylostoma duodenale*, *Ascaris lumbricoides*, and *Necator americanus*[1][3][5]. It is a quaternary ammonium compound that acts as a cholinergic agonist at nematode acetylcholine receptors (AChRs), producing spastic paralysis of the worms and facilitating their expulsion from the body[5][6]. Its mechanism of action is similar to pyrantel and levamisole but with some differences in receptor selectivity[6][8]. Bephenium was introduced into clinical use in 1958 but has since been replaced by more effective or better-tolerated agents such as albendazole, mebendazole, or pyrantel pamoate[3]. It is not FDA-approved and is no longer available in many countries including the United States[1][3].

Brand names

AlcoparaAlcoparBefeniumDebefeniumFrancinNemex

Other names

bephenium hydroxynaphthoate