home Audience 5 Levamisole 10 instructions for use in veterinary medicine. Levamisole: instructions for use against worms. Dosage for different types of animals

Levamisole 10 instructions for use in veterinary medicine. Levamisole: instructions for use against worms. Dosage for different types of animals

"Levamisole" refers to anthelmintic and immunomodulatory drugs. The active ingredient is levamisole hydrochloride, which is an odorless white or light pink powder that easily dissolves in water.

Release form

The medicine is available in the form of tablets of 0.15 (adult dose) or 0.05 g (for children), packaged in blisters of one or two pieces, since the treatment course is usually a single dose of the drug.

Pharmacology

The drug paralyzes the muscle tissue of round helminths: hookworms, toxoplasma, roundworms and others. Immobilized helminths are eliminated from the intestines naturally a day after taking the medicine.

In addition, the drug stimulates the formation of antibodies, which increases the body's immune defense. It is absorbed from the intestine in a short time, reaching its highest concentration in the blood two hours after administration. When passing through the liver, it forms inactive metabolites. Partial elimination from the body occurs after three hours, metabolites - after approximately 16 hours.

Indications for use

Prescribed for the following diseases:

The average price is from 20 to 60 rubles.

As an immunomodulator "Levamisole" is used to treat:

Autoimmune diseases:
- Aphthous stomatitis
- Lupus erythematosus
- Reiter's syndrome
- Crohn's disease
- Rheumatoid arthritis
Malignant tumors during remission:
- Lymphogranulomatosis
- Colon cancer
- Leukemia
- Breast tumors
- Bronchial cancer
Long-lasting infections, and with their frequent relapse:
- Bronchitis
- Chronic hepatitis B
- Warts
- Herpes
- Pyoderma
- Sinusitis
- Viral hepatitis B
- Shingles.

Contraindications

Rigorous studies have not been conducted on the effect of the drug during pregnancy and lactation. As a result, it is not recommended to take it during this period. The drug is contraindicated in children under seven years of age, as well as in the presence of:

Intolerance to the components of the drug
Agranulocytosis.

Also, its use should be limited to patients with:

Cerebrovascular insufficiency
Kidney or liver failure
Acute phase of leukemia
Depressed bone marrow hematopoiesis.

Before prescribing the drug, blood tests are performed. They are also required during treatment - at least once every three weeks.

Side effects

The most common are abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. If you take the drug for a long time, urticaria, skin rash, runny nose, headache, fever, nervous disorder and agranulocytosis may occur.

Interaction with other substances

During treatment, you should not drink alcohol - this leads to the development of Antabuse-like syndrome. That is, increased alcohol intolerance occurs, which is usually a consequence of taking Antabuse, a medicine used to cure alcohol dependence.

And also, the drug cannot be used simultaneously with Ethanol, Warfarin, Phenytoin.

Method of administration

The medicine should be taken with food, washed down with water, according to the indicated dosage.

For helminthiasis, the tablet is taken 1 time before bedtime for one day. Dose for children under 6 years of age: 25-50 mg. From 7 to 14 years - 50-125 mg. For children over 14 years of age and adults 150 mg.

If necessary, the course should be repeated after one or two weeks.

For toxoplasmosis, 150 mg of the medicine is taken for 3 days - 1 time per day. Then a break is taken for one week and the course is repeated 2-3 times.

To enhance immunity, the dose is 150 mg (1 dose over 3 days). The course lasts 6-8 months. It is necessary to take a break of 1-2 weeks.

For cancer, the required dose is 50 mg 3 times a day for 3 days. Break - 2 weeks. The course is 1 year.

Overdose

An overdose is manifested by exacerbation of side effects: disruption of the heart, convulsions. In such cases, you need to stop taking the medication, do a gastric lavage (if the drug was taken recently), and drink activated charcoal. Symptomatic treatment is also prescribed. There have been cases of death, so the correct dosage must be observed.

Storage

Store in a dark place, out of reach of children, at a temperature of 15–30°C for no more than five years.

Application in veterinary medicine

For deworming of cows, goats, sheep, pigs and dogs, Levamisole 75 is used, which has the form of a clear solution. It is bottled in glass bottles of 20, 50 and 100 ml, sealed with rubber caps held in place by aluminum fasteners (Nita-Pharm CJSC, Russia). Its analogue is Levamisole 10, which is bottled in 50 and 100 ml bottles made of dark glass (Askont+ LLC, Russia). Levamisole Plus differs from these two drugs in that it is also used to treat birds (Product, Ukraine).

Action diagram

The drugs paralyze the nervous and muscular systems of nematodes, causing their death. Levamisole 75 reaches its maximum concentration within 40 minutes and remains in the blood for approximately 7–8 hours after the injection. It is excreted from the body after 3–7 days, including through breast milk. The same applies to Levamisole 10, which is used to treat poultry, and Levamisole Plus.

Indications for use

Levamisole 75 and other veterinary drugs are used to treat diseases of cows, goats, sheep, pigs, dogs and birds:

Contraindications

The toxic effect of the drug on the embryos of rats and rabbits and its excretion into the milk of cows has been proven. Therefore, Levamisole 75 and its derivatives are not administered to cows in the final trimester of pregnancy, and to sheep, goats, pigs and dogs in the second half of this period. Also, their use is contraindicated for animals weighing less than 10 kg, with severe malnutrition, infectious diseases and intolerance to the components of the drug.

Reception scheme

"Levamisole 75" is administered to animals without the use of fasting and laxatives, one-time at the rate of 7.5 mg per 1 kg of weight, which is the same as 1 ml per 10 kg. And “Levamisole 10” for the treatment of birds is used in the amount of 1 ml per 250 ml of drinking water.

Analogs

MEDANA Farma, Poland

Price from 20 to 60 rub.

pros

The most affordable anthelmintic drug
Can be taken during pregnancy and lactation (subject to cessation of breastfeeding)
It is not absorbed into the gastrointestinal tract and is almost completely eliminated from the body.

Does not affect larvae in the migration stage
Even if only one person is sick, everyone living together should take a course of the drug.

Gedeon Richter JSC, Hungary

Price from 90 to 150 rub.

pros

Effective against many types of helminths
Can be taken for prevention

Minuses

Severe side effects
During the day after taking the drug, you should not drink ethanol or eat fatty foods.

for deworming animals

I. GENERAL INFORMATION

1. Levamizol 75 (Levamizol 75) is a drug from the imidazothiazole group, intended for deworming animals with nematodes.

2. Levamisole 75 as an active ingredient contains 75 mg of levamisole hydrochloride (in terms of levamisole base), as well as auxiliary components: sodium metabisulfite, Trilon B, chlorethone, sodium citrate, citric acid and water for injection.

3. In appearance, the drug is a clear, colorless liquid.

Levamisole 75 is produced in the form of a sterile solution, packaged in 20, 50 and 100 ml in hermetically sealed bottles of appropriate capacity, sealed with rubber stoppers and rolled aluminum caps.

Each bottle is labeled indicating: the manufacturer, its address and trademark, name, purpose and method of use of the drug, name and content of the active substance, quantity of the drug in the bottle, batch number, date of manufacture, expiration date, storage conditions, designation of specifications, the inscriptions “For animals”, “Sterile” and provide instructions for use.

4. Store the drug with precautions (list B) in the original packaging, in a dry place protected from direct sunlight at a temperature of 5 to 25 ° C.

Shelf life, subject to storage conditions, is 2 years from the date of manufacture.

Levamisole 75 should not be used after the expiration date.

II. PHARMACOLOGICAL PROPERTIES

After parenteral administration of the drug, Levamisole hydrochloride is quickly resorbed from the injection site and penetrates organs and tissues, reaching a maximum concentration within 30-50 minutes, and remains in the blood serum at a therapeutic level for 6-9 hours after administration. It is excreted from the body within 3-7 days, mainly unchanged, mainly with urine and partly with feces, and in lactating women with milk.

6. Levamisole 75 in terms of the degree of impact on the body is classified as a moderately hazardous substance (hazard class 3 according to GOST 12.1.007-76), in recommended doses it is well tolerated by animals, does not have a locally irritating, embryotoxic, teratogenic, mutagenic or sensitizing effect.

III. ORDER OF APPLICATION

7. Levamisole 75 is prescribed for deworming:

Cattle, sheep and goats with dictyocaulosis, hemonchosis, bunostomiasis, esophagostomiasis, nematodirosis, ostertagiasis, habertiosis, cooperiosis and strongyloidiasis;

Pigs with ascariasis, esophagostomiasis, strongyloidiasis, trichuriasis, chiostrongylosis and metastrongylosis;

For dogs with toxocariasis, toxascariasis, uncinariasis and hookworm.

8. The drug is administered without prior starvation diet and the use of laxatives once, subcutaneously (in cattle and small cattle it can be administered intramuscularly) at a dose of 7.5 mg of active substance per 1 kg of animal weight, which corresponds to 1.0 ml of Levamisole 75 per 10 kg of weight animal.

The maximum administered dose of the drug should not exceed:

For cattle - 30 ml;

For pigs - 20 ml;

For sheep - 4.5 ml.

The maximum volume of the drug for administration to one site should not exceed:

For cattle - 20 ml;

For pigs - 10 ml;

For sheep and calves - 5 ml;

For dogs - 2.5 ml.

9. Before mass treatments, each series of the drug is first tested on a small group of animals (5-10 animals), which are monitored for 3 days. In the absence of complications, the drug is administered to the entire livestock.

10. Weakened, emaciated and sick animals with infectious diseases, as well as cows in the last third of pregnancy, ewes, goats, sows and bitches in the second half of pregnancy, are not subject to deworming.

Levamisole 75 should not be used together, or within 10 days before and 10 days after the use of organophosphorus drugs, pyrantel, morantel and chloramphenicol.

11. With increased individual sensitivity to Levamisole, some animals may experience agitation, increased salivation, increased frequency of defecation and urination, and ataxia. These symptoms usually resolve spontaneously without the use of therapeutic agents.

12. The slaughter of animals for meat is permitted no earlier than 7 days after the use of Levamisole 75. In case of forced slaughter of animals earlier than the established period, the meat can be used as feed for fur-bearing animals or for the production of meat and bone meal.

Milk from dairy cows must not be used for food purposes within 3 days after using Levamisole 75; after boiling, such milk can be used to feed animals.

IV. PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES

13. All work with the medicinal product should be carried out in compliance with the rules of personal hygiene and safety precautions provided for when working with veterinary medicinal products.

14. If Levamisole 75 accidentally gets on the skin or mucous membranes, it must be immediately removed with a swab and washed off with plenty of water.

15. Levamisole 75 should be stored out of the reach of children and animals.

Manufacturing organization: Nita-Pharm CJSC; 410010, Saratov, st. Osipova, 1.

Anthelmintic drug. The solution for injection is clear, colorless, 1 ml contains levamisole (in the form of hydrochloride) 75 mg. Excipients: sodium bisulfite - 2.5 mg, sodium citrate - 7 mg, chlorethone - 5 mg, sodium edetate - 0.2 mg, citric acid - up to pH 3.2-4.2, water for injection - up to 1 ml. Packaged in 20, 50 and 100 ml in glass bottles of appropriate capacity, hermetically sealed with rubber stoppers, reinforced with aluminum caps.

Pharmacological (biological) properties and effects

After parenteral administration of the drug, levamisole hydrochloride is rapidly absorbed from the injection site and penetrates organs and tissues, reaching a maximum concentration within 30-50 minutes, and remains in the blood serum at a therapeutic level for 6-9 hours after administration. Levamisole is excreted from the body within 3-7 days, mainly unchanged, mainly in urine and partly in feces, and in lactating females - also in milk.

The drug belongs to moderately hazardous substances (hazard class 3 according to GOST 12.1.007-76).

Indications for use

For deworming:
- cattle, sheep and goats with dictyocaulosis, hemonchosis, bunostomiasis, esophagostomosis, nematodirosis, ostertagiasis, habertiosis, cooperiosis and strongyloidiasis;
- pigs with ascariasis, esophagostomiasis, strongyloidiasis, trichuriasis, chiostrongylosis and metastrongylosis;
- dogs with toxocariasis, toxascariasis, uncinariasis and hookworm.

Application procedure

The drug is administered without prior fasting and the use of laxatives once, subcutaneously (for large and small cattle it can be administered intramuscularly) at a dose of 7.5 mg of active substance per 1 kg of animal weight, which corresponds to 1 ml of the drug per 10 kg of animal weight.

The maximum administered dose of the drug should not exceed 30 ml for cattle, 20 ml for pigs, and 4.5 ml for sheep.

The maximum volume of the drug for administration to the same place should not exceed 20 ml for cattle, 10 ml for pigs, 5 ml for sheep and calves, and 2.5 ml for dogs.

Before mass treatments, each series of the drug is first tested on a small group of animals (5-10 animals), which are monitored for 3 days. In the absence of complications, the drug is administered to the entire livestock.

The drug is used once.

Side effects

When using Levamisole 75 in accordance with these instructions, side effects and complications in animals, as a rule, are not observed. In case of increased individual sensitivity to the components of the drug and the appearance of allergic reactions, its use is stopped and the animal is prescribed antihistamines and symptomatic therapy.

In case of overdose, nausea, vomiting (in pigs and dogs), colic, diarrhea, increased salivation, and allergic reactions (itching, urticaria) may occur. These symptoms usually resolve spontaneously without the use of therapeutic agents.

Contraindications for use

Individual hypersensitivity of the animal to the components of the drug.

The use of the drug is prohibited for pregnant cows in the last third of pregnancy, and for ewes, goats, sows and bitches in the second half of pregnancy.

The drug should not be used in animals that are weakened, emaciated or sick with infectious diseases.

Special instructions and personal preventive measures

Features of the action upon first use of the drug and upon its withdrawal have not been established.

Levamisole 75 should not be used together, or within 10 days before and 10 days after the use of organophosphorus drugs, as well as pyrantel, morantel and chloramphenicol.

When working with Levamisole 75, you should follow the general rules of personal hygiene and safety precautions provided for when working with medicines. Smoking, drinking and eating are prohibited during work. After finishing work, wash your hands with warm water and soap.

In case of accidental contact of the drug with the skin or mucous membranes of the eyes, they must be rinsed with plenty of water. People with hypersensitivity to the components of the drug should avoid direct contact with Levamisole 75. In case of allergic reactions or if the drug accidentally enters the human body, you should immediately contact a medical facility (have instructions for use of the drug or label with you).

Empty drug bottles are disposed of with household waste.

Storage conditions and periods

The drug should be stored in the manufacturer's sealed packaging, in a dry place, protected from light, out of reach of children, separately from food and feed, at a temperature of 5°C to 25°C. Shelf life, subject to storage conditions, is 2 years from the date of production. The use of Levamisole 75 after the expiration date is prohibited.

Levamisole is the international nonproprietary name of a chemical substance with anthelmintic properties. Its action is characterized by a narrow focus. The drug of the same name is active only against certain types of roundworms. Instructions for use of Levamisole contain information about its pharmacological properties, describe the method of use, indicate the presence of side effects and contraindications. To achieve the desired result, it is important to strictly follow the recommendations for use.

The drug is primarily used to treat ascariasis. It shows less effectiveness against necatoriasis and hookworm disease.

How does Levamisole work?

Some sources say that drugs based on Levamisole have immunomodulatory properties. There is no such information in the official instructions. Sometimes doctors prescribe Levamisole as a drug that enhances the body's protective functions. The indications in this case are:

Hepatitis B;
the presence of herpes virus types 1 and 2;
rheumatoid arthritis;
Crohn's disease;
Reiter's disease;
recovery period after chemotherapy and radiation therapy in the treatment of cancer.

Levamisole is 95% absorbed in the intestine and quickly enters the bloodstream. Its maximum plasma concentration is detected within the first 1.5-2 hours after oral administration. Half-life is the time during which the drug loses its pharmacological activity by half. For Levamisole it is 3-6 hours.

The substance is neutralized by the liver. Here it decomposes into non-toxic compounds. Only 5% of the drug is excreted unchanged. Most of it is excreted in urine, the rest in feces.

Instructions for use

Dosage form - tablets. Available in 1 piece, sealed in a blister. Packaging - cardboard box. One tablet contains 150 mg of levamisole hydrochloride.

The drug is prescribed to adults and children over 14 years of age. The instructions do not allow the use of Levamisole in persons under the specified age.

The course of treatment is prescribed for the treatment of ascariasis. For rare tropical helminthic infestations - necatoriasis and hookworm disease, the treatment regimen is prescribed individually by the doctor.

For adults

During anthelmintic therapy, the drug is used once in the evening after meals or during meals. Take the tablet with a small amount of water. For adults, a single dose is 150 mg. A repeat course is carried out after 1-2 weeks.

You do not need to adhere to a special diet before treatment. After using Levamisole, there is no need to take laxatives. During anthelmintic therapy, as well as over the next 24 hours, you should abstain from alcohol.

As an immunomodulator, Levamisole is taken in an amount of 150 mg at a time. Or divide the dose into 50 mg and drink it for three days, once a day every two weeks. The number of courses is determined by the doctor.

For children

Levamisole is approved for children over 14 years of age. Treatment is carried out in the same way as in adults, the dose is taken at a time. Children are prescribed 2.5 mg per 1 kg of weight. But usually a single dose is 1 whole tablet.

Is it possible for pregnant and nursing mothers?

There are no data confirming the safety of using Levamisole during pregnancy. It was revealed that in animals the drug in high doses has a toxic effect on the embryo. No adequate studies have been conducted in humans. Therefore, the prescription of Levamisole is advisable only after carefully balancing the benefits for the mother and the risk to the fetus.

There are no studies on the safety of Levamisole during lactation. It is not known whether the active substance is excreted in mother's milk. There is evidence that cows receiving Levamisole have a chemical compound found in their milk. Based on these data, women during lactation may be advised to stop breastfeeding for the period of treatment or ask the doctor to prescribe a safer remedy.

Use of Levamisole in veterinary medicine

Veterinary drugs based on Levamisole are used to treat animals:

"Levamisole 75";
"Levamisole 8";
"Levamisole 10".

"Levamisole 75"

Injection. Transparent colorless liquid with an active substance concentration of 7.5%. Available in dark glass bottles of 20, 50, 100 ml.

The drug is administered parenterally (bypassing the gastrointestinal tract). The maximum concentration in the blood is detected after 30-50 minutes. Levamisole is almost completely excreted unchanged from the body, mainly in the urine and partly in the feces. Excreted in the milk of lactating animals.

The drug is administered once intramuscularly or subcutaneously. For 10 kg of weight, take 1 ml of solution.

Maximum single dose:

for cattle - 20 ml;
for pigs - 10 ml;
for sheep, goats, calves - 5 ml;
for dogs - 2.5 ml.

Before treatment, the animal does not need to be kept on a starvation diet. The use of laxatives is also not required. If the dosage is followed, side effects are extremely rare. Individual allergic reactions are possible.

"Levamisole 75" is not used in animals in the second half of pregnancy. Meat can be used no earlier than 7 days after treatment, milk - after three days.

"Levamisole 8"

Water-soluble white powder, packaged in containers or sealed bags. 1 gram of the drug contains 80 mg of active substance.

Used for deworming cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, poultry, dogs. Feed with water or food. Animals are given once in the amount of 1 gram per 10 kg of weight. For poultry - 3-4 grams per 10 kg of weight, fed at a time, or divided into several doses, one per day for 3-4 days. Absorbed in the intestines. Metabolized to non-toxic residues by the liver. Not used in females in the last third of pregnancy.

After deworming, the waiting period for meat is 7 days, for milk and eggs - 3 days.

"Levamisole 10"

1 ml of solution contains 100 mg of medicinal component. Liquid for injection is packaged in bottles of 50 and 100 ml. The nature of action and method of application are the same as Levamisole 75 and are derived in the same way.

Used for the treatment and prevention of helminthiasis in cattle, sheep, goats, and pigs. The dose for cows is 7.5 ml per 100 kg of body weight (but not more than 30 ml), for small animals - 0.75 ml per 10 kg. More than 15 ml of the drug is not injected at the same time; the dose is distributed over 2-3 places. The animal is sent for slaughter no earlier than after 7 days.

All forms of veterinary Levamisole are not allowed to be used in animals that are exhausted or weakened by infections.

Side effects

Levamisole is a drug of moderate toxicity. The instructions indicate the likelihood of adverse reactions occurring in 1% of cases of use.

From the digestive organs the following are observed:

abdominal pain;
nausea;
vomit;
diarrhea;
obsessive smell of chlorine and metallic taste in the mouth.

From the nervous system:

insomnia;
nightmares;
headache;
convulsions;
organic brain damage.

There is no sufficient evidence to believe that Levamisole depresses the nervous system. However, given that it may cause slight dizziness, extreme caution should be taken when driving.

Undesirable reactions from the cardiovascular system - palpitations.

On the part of the blood system - a redistribution of indicators towards a decrease in leukocytes or platelets.

Allergic reactions:

skin rashes;
Quincke's edema.

With a single dose, undesirable effects are not clearly expressed and disappear on their own in a short period. The connection between treatment with Levamisole and encephalopathy (brain damage) is unclear. With early treatment with hormonal drugs, it is possible to completely restore brain function.

Contraindications

First of all, the drug is contraindicated during pregnancy and lactation. Levamisole is not prescribed to patients with known hematopoietic disorders and to children under 14 years of age.

People suffering from lactase deficiency or glucose-galactose malabsorption syndrome (inability to absorb substances) should note that Levamisole tablets contain lactose.

Taking the drug together with alcohol leads to toxic damage to the body. As a result of the reaction, toxic substances are released and histamine production increases. Signs of severe poisoning appear: nausea, vomiting, palpitations, suffocation, redness of the face, panic. The pressure rises. The condition can lead to death.

Levamisole is used with caution with phenytoin and coumarin anticoagulants. It is able to enhance the effects of the listed funds.

You should be careful not to take the medicine with drugs containing:

carbon tetrachloride;
terachlorethylene;
Chenopodium oil;
chloroform;
ether.

With simultaneous action, the toxic effect on the body may increase.

"Levamisole" is prescribed with caution to patients with impaired renal and liver function. The development of negative reactions is possible due to individual intolerance to the components of the drug.

Analogues of Levamisole

The only analogue of Levamisole containing the same active ingredient is the drug "Dekaris". It is available in two dosages - 50 and 150 mg. 50 mg tablets are intended for children over 3 years of age. They add dye and apricot flavoring.

The drug has the same pharmacological effect as Levamisole. "Dekaris" 50 mg is prescribed to children 3-6 years old for a single dose of half or a whole tablet, depending on the child's weight. From 6 to 10 years old, 1-1.5 tablets are prescribed. At 10-14 years old, a single dose is 75-100 mg (1.5-2 tablets). If indicated, the course is repeated after 7-14 days.

"Dekaris" 150 mg is not prescribed for children under 14 years of age. Adults take 1 tablet once in the evening after meals with a small amount of water. The course is repeated in the same way after 1-2 weeks.

There is no need to go on a fasting diet before taking the drug or take laxatives.

When describing contraindications and side effects, Dekaris indicates the same properties as Levamisole.

Levamisole is better known by its trade name "".

From 1999 to 2003, human treatment with levamisole was suspended in the United States due to the large number of side effects and the availability of alternative less toxic and more effective drugs. However, it is still applicable for treating animals.

Compound

Hydrochloride- this is the active substance of levamisole, is a biologically active derivative of tetramisole - a pale pink or white powder, odorless, highly soluble in water and stable in oxidized solutions. In neutral or alkaline solutions it does not remain unchanged, but begins to decompose. (S)-2,3,5,6-Tetrahydro-5-phenylimidazothiazole hydrochloride is the chemical name of levamisole, the general formula is considered to be C11H12N2S.

Levamisole is available in the form of tablets of 0.05 g or 0.15 g, in the form of a 10% solution for injection - transparent, colorless and odorless, and also in powder form.

Mechanism of action

Since the drug has immunomodulatory properties, the human body increases the production of antibodies to antigens, increases the T-cell response, and the functions of macrophages, monocytes and neutrophils. By killing, levamisole increases immunity.

Pharmacokinetics

Levamisole is quickly absorbed from the digestive organs and further metabolized in the liver. A high level of concentration in the blood is observed 1.5–2 hours after taking the drug. About 70% is excreted through the kidneys within 3-4 days, and half-life is observed after 3-4 hours. Only 5% of the drug leaves the body unchanged.

Medical use

The drug is used to treat diseases caused by both adult individuals and nematodes at an early stage of development.

Used to treat:

trichostrongyloidosis;

Levamisole, as having immunomodulatory properties, is used in the treatment of viral hepatitis, Reiter's and Crohn's diseases, rheumatoid arthritis and malignant neoplasms.

Illegal use

In addition to treating humans and animals, Levamisole has found use for narcotic purposes. It is often cut into cocaine and then sold around the world, particularly in the United States. In 2008 and 2009, the US Drug Enforcement Administration found levamisole in 69% of cocaine samples. And in 2011, this figure increased and amounted to 82% of all cocaine samples seized.

This is because the added Levamisole increases the volume and weight of the main drug in powder form, and the powder itself appears purer.

At the same time, after the study, the American newspaper “The Stranger” wrote that levamisole has a stimulating property and allows you to easily pass a street cleanliness test.

The active ingredient levamisole can suppress the production of leukocytes, which will definitely lead to neutropenia and agranulocytosis. A sharp increase in complications associated with the use of cocaine and levomisole simultaneously has been reported. The drug together with the drug increases the risk of the occurrence and development of vasculitis. Two cases of skin necrosis have been reported in patients using cocaine diluted with levamisole. And also two high-profile deaths: the death of Adam Goldstein in 2009 and Andrew Koppel (son of the famous American journalist Ted Koppel) in 2010.

In order to combat the dangerous mixture, special tests began to be distributed that made it possible to most likely identify the impurity of levamisole. Of course, these tests were used by both consumers and dealers themselves.

Levamisole instructions for use for humans

According to the instructions, levamisole is used only internally (orally) with meals. For treating people, the medicine is available in tablet form.

For the treatment of toxoplasmosis, 150 mg of the drug per day is prescribed. Recommended course of treatment: three doses, each with an interval of 1 week.

Levamisole is used once in a dosage of 150 mg for adults, for children - 2.5 mg per 1 kg of weight. If necessary, the dose can be repeated after a week.

It is important to remember that for children there are tablets with a reduced content of the active substance (50 mg), for adults a single dose is 150 mg

For children under 6 years of age, no more than 50 mg of the drug is recommended; from 6 to 14 years of age, 50-100 mg of the drug is acceptable.

Instructions for use for animals

For the treatment of animals, a solution of levamisole 10 is used for intramuscular injection in the following dosages:

cattle – 7.5 ml/100 kg (single dosage can be 23 ml);
small cattle – 0.75 ml/10 kg (maximum dosage is 4.5 ml);
pigs - 0.75 ml/10 kg, if the pig is over 150 kg, then for every extra 50 kg add 3.5 ml of the drug. In case of dosage above 15 ml, intramuscular injection is given in 2-3 different places.

Levamisole 8 solution is used for:

ruminants – 7.5 mg per 1 kg of body weight;
poultry - 20-35 mg per 1 kg of weight.

The powder is usually mixed with food or water. In case of severe infection, the course is carried out for 3 days, while reducing the single dosage by 2 times.

Levamisole 7.5 in the form of an injection solution is indicated for use in a dosage of 1 ml per 10 kg of animal weight. For cattle, 30 ml is acceptable, for pigs - 20 ml, for goats and large dogs - 4.5 ml.

You should not administer the drug en masse; it is better to test it on several, so that if side effects occur, all animals are not affected.

Side effects

Like every serious drug, levamisole has its own side effects such as:

nausea;
digestive disorders;
abdominal pain;
vomiting;
ulcers in the mouth.

In addition, cases of pancreatitis have been reported. With long courses of treatment, the following may occur:

Women may experience uterine bleeding when taking the drug. It is not recommended to use the medicine during pregnancy, since there is no clear information about the effect on the woman’s body and the child herself.

However, there are known cases of negative effects of the drug in pregnant animals.

One of the serious negative effects of taking levamisole is the destruction of leukocytes (white blood cells). According to test results, this occurs in 0.08-5% of patients.

It is known that among the side effects, skin necrosis has been reported in some patients, in which papules can appear on any part of the body.

Animals may also exhibit vomiting, increased agitation, frequency of defecation and urination, and ataxia (impaired coordination of movements).

Contraindications for the use of levamisole

Levamisole is prohibited for the treatment of people with individual intolerance to the components of the drug. Alcohol is strictly contraindicated while taking levamisole, as Antabuse-like syndrome may occur.

Contraindications are renal and liver failure, circulatory disorders in the brain, low levels of hematopoiesis in the bone marrow, and acute leukemia.

Use during pregnancy

No studies have been conducted on the effect of the drug on pregnant women. But tests were conducted on pregnant rabbits and rats, which showed abnormalities in the development of the fetus, so we can conclude that there is no need for lavamisole therapy during pregnancy.

If it is necessary to take the drug, treatment should be carried out under the strict supervision of the attending physician. At the same time, it is necessary to take tests every three weeks.

Interaction with other drugs

Do not take the drug together with medications that reduce white blood cells

In addition, Levamisole has an enhancing anticoagulant effect. Taking it with amphotericin B can cause kidney damage. Together with busulfan, the risk of developing veno-occlusive diseases increases. When paired with any side effects resulting from an overdose are possible. Taking levamisole with warfarin may cause bleeding.

Trade names and prices

Among the trade names, the most common are Levamisole and. The drug is produced in different countries, including Hungary and Romania.

The cost of one tablet (single dose) in Russia varies from 60 to 100 rubles. In Ukraine, imported medicine costs twice as much, but Levamisole produced in Kharkov can be purchased quite inexpensively.

Injection solution is more expensive than tablets, the price starts from 3 dollars. for 100 ml. A sachet of Levamisole in powder form (10 g) can be purchased for $0.15.