Diethylcarbamazine
Brand: Hetrazan / DEC
Antiparasitic
Microfilaricidal agent
Pharmacokinetics
| Half-life | 10 hours |
| Clearance Route | renal |
| Active Metabolites | none |
| Notes | Well absorbed orally; may cause Mazzotti reaction when microfilarial load high. Reduce dose in renal impairment. |
⚠️ Safety & Warnings
Severity: Moderate
Adverse Effects:
Fever, headache, dizziness, nausea; allergic reactions due to microfilarial death (Mazzotti-type). Rare: proteinuria, leukocytosis.
Contraindications:
Onchocerciasis (may worsen ocular damage), severe renal disease
Precautions:
Start with low dose to avoid severe reaction; corticosteroids may be required in high microfilarial load.