praziquantel

Praziquantel is a small molecule anthelmintic medication used to treat a variety of parasitic worm infections, including schistosomiasis, clonorchiasis, opisthorchiasis, tapeworm infections (such as taeniasis and cysticercosis), echinococcosis, paragonimiasis, fasciolopsiasis, and fasciolosis in humans[3][5]. It is also used in veterinary medicine for similar indications. Praziquantel works primarily by disrupting calcium ion homeostasis in susceptible worms through antagonism of voltage-gated calcium channels. This leads to increased permeability of the parasite's cell membranes to calcium ions, resulting in paralysis and death of the worm[6][3]. The drug was first approved for medical use in 1982 and is included on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines due to its efficacy and low cost[5].

Brand names

Biltricide

Other names

praziquantel