Adult

Praziquantel

General Information

Unlicensed Restricted formulary antimicrobial: For details see OUH netFormulary

For all information regarding interactions, contraception, pregnancy and breastfeeding and additional information, see BNF

Dosing

  Oral dose
Schistosomiasis 20mg/kg, followed by 20mg/kg after 4-6 hours
Intestinal Tapeworms 10-25mg/kg STAT

Other dosing regimens may be used for indications such as liver/lung flukes, neurocysticercosis, hydatid disease. This would be following national hospital tropical diseases (NHTD) recommendation.

Renal and hepatic impairment

Renal impairment

  • No dose adjustment required in patients.
  • HD/PD: Not dialysed. Dose as in normal renal function.
  • HDF/High Flux: Unknown dialysability. Dose as in normal renal function.

 

Hepatic impairment

Mild impairment (Child-Pugh Class A) No dosage adjustment
Moderate impairment (Child-Pugh Class B) No dosage adjustment
Severe impairment (Child-Pugh Class C) Reduce dosage

References

  1. Bayer HealthCare. BILTRICIDE® tablets (praziquantel) summary of Product Characteristics. Electronic medicines compendium. Available at: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2004/18714s008,009lbl.pdf Accessed 7/8/26.
  2. Sanford Guide [online]. Praziquantel. Last updated 1/7/26. Accessed via https://webedition.sanfordguide.com Accessed 7/8/26
  3. ‌ British National Formulary. Praziquantel. BNF online accessed via www.medicinescomplete.com Accessed 7/8/26.
  4. The Renal Drug Database. Praziquantel. Last updated 14/11/24. Available at: https://renaldrugdatabase.com Accessed 7/8/26.

Editorial Information

Last reviewed: 10 Aug 2026

Next review date: 09 Aug 2029

Author(s): AMST.