General MedicationsORALHigh Alert

Biltricide

PRAZIQUANTEL

Standard Dose

2 DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION • Schistosomiasis : 20 mg/kg bodyweight 3 times a day separated by 4 to 6 hours for 1 day only. ( 2.1 ) • Clonorchiasis and Opisthorchiasis : 2 5 mg/kg 3 times a day separated by 4 to 6 hours for 1 day only. ( 2.1) • Take with water during meals. Do not chew or keep segments in the mouth. ( 2.2 ) • For pediatric patients under 6 years of age, the tablets may be crushed or disintegrated and mixed with semi-solid food or liquid. (2.2) • For additional administration instructions see the full prescribing information. 2.1 Recommended Dosage Schistosomiasis The recommended dosage for the treatment of schistosomiasis is 20 mg/kg bodyweight administered orally three times a day separated by 4 to 6 hours, for 1 day only. Clonorchiasis and Opisthorchiasis The recommended dosage for the treatment of clonorchiasis and opisthorchiasis is 25 mg/kg bodyweight administered orally three times a day separated by 4 to 6 hours for 1 day only. 2.2 Administration Take tablets with water during meals. Do not chew or keep the tablets (or parts of tablets) in the mouth; the bitter taste may cause gagging or vomiting. To prevent choking in pediatric patients under 6 years of age, the tablets may be crushed or disintegrated and mixed with semi-solid food or liquid. Use crushed or disintegrated tablets within 1 hour of mixing. Biltricide 600 mg tablets have three scores which can be split into four segments at the scores. When broken, each of the four segments contains 150 mg of praziquantel so that the dosage can be adjusted to the patient’s bodyweight. Segments are broken off by pressing the score (notch) with thumbnails. If one-quarter of a tablet is required, this is best achieved by breaking the segment from the outer end.

Max Dose

See official label

Primary Use

1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE Biltricide is indicated in patients aged 1 year and older for the treatment of the following infections: • Schistosomiasis due to all species of schistosoma (for example, Schistosoma mekongi, Schistosoma japonicum, Schistosoma mansoni and Schistosoma hematobium ), and • Clonorchiasis and Opisthorchiasis due to the liver flukes, Clonorchis sinensis/Opisthorchis viverrini (approval of this indication was based on studies in which the two species were not differentiated) Biltricide is an anthelmintic indicated in patients aged one year and older for the treatment of the following infections: • Schistosomiasis due to all species of schistosoma (for example , Schistosoma mekongi , Schistosoma japonicum , Schistosoma mansoni and Schistosoma hematobium ), and, • Clonorchiasis and Opisthorchiasis due to the liver flukes, Clonorchis sinensis and Opisthorchis viverrini

Summary

Do not chew or keep segments in the mouth. ( 2.2 ) • For pediatric patients under 6 years of age, the tablets may be crushed or disintegrated and mixed with semi-solid food or liquid. (2.2) • For additional administration instructions see the full prescribing information. 2.1 Recommended Dosage Schistosomiasis The recommended dosage for the treatment of schistosomiasis is 20 mg/kg bodyweight administered orally three times a day separated by 4 to 6 hours, for 1 day only.

Structured Monograph

Clinical summary

Indications and usage 1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE Biltricide is indicated in patients aged 1 year and older for the treatment of the following infections: • Schistosomiasis due to all species of schistosoma (for example, Schistosoma mekongi, Schistosoma japonicum, Schistosoma mansoni and Schistosoma hematobium ), and • Clonorchiasis and Opisthorchiasis due to the liver flukes, Clonorchis sinensis/Opisthorchis viverrini (approval of this indication was based on studies in which the two species were not differentiated) Biltricide is an anthelmintic indicated in patients aged one year and older for the treatment of the following infections: • Schistosomiasis due to all species of schistosoma (for example , Schistosoma mekongi , Schistosoma japonicum , Schistosoma mansoni and Schistosoma hematobium ), and, • Clonorchiasis and Opisthorchiasis due to the liver flukes, Clonorchis sinensis and Opisthorchis viverrini Dosage and administration 2 DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION • Schistosomiasis : 20 mg/kg bodyweight 3 times a day separated by 4 to 6 hours for 1 day only. ( 2.1 ) • Clonorchiasis and Opisthorchiasis : 2 5 mg/kg 3 times a day separated by 4 to 6 hours for 1 day only. ( 2.1) • Take with water during meals. Do not chew or keep segments in the mouth. ( 2.2 ) • For pediatric patients under 6 years of age, the tablets may be crushed or disintegrated and mixed with semi-solid food or liquid. (2.2) • For additional administration instructions see the full prescribing information. 2.1 Recommended Dosage Schistosomiasis The recommended dosage for the treatment of schistosomiasis is 20 mg/kg bodyweight administered orally three times a day separated by 4 to 6 hours, for 1 day only. Clonorchiasis and Opisthorchiasis The recommended dosage for the treatment of clonorchiasis and opisthorchiasis is 25 mg/kg bodyweight administered orally three times a day separated by 4 to 6 hours for 1 day only. 2.2 Administration Take tablets with water during meals. Do not chew or keep the tablets (or parts of tablets) in the mouth; the bitter taste may cause gagging or vomiting. To prevent choking in pediatric patients under 6 years of age, the tablets may be crushed or disintegrated and mixed with semi-solid food or liquid. Use crushed or disintegrated tablets within 1 hour of mixing. Biltricide 600 mg tablets have three scores which can be split into four segments at the scores. When broken, each of the four segments contains 150 mg of praziquantel so that the dosage can be adjusted to the patient’s bodyweight. Segments are broken off by pressing the score (notch) with thumbnails. If one-quarter of a tablet is required, this is best achieved by breaking the segment from the outer end. Warnings and cautions 5 WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS • Clinical Deterioration : Potentially life threatening clinical deterioration can occur in patients treated during the acute phase of schistosomiasis. ( 5.1 ) • Central Nervous System (CNS) Effects : Biltricide can exacerbate central nervous system pathology due to schistosomiasis. Consider whether to administer to individuals reporting a history of epilepsy and/or other signs of potential central nervous systems involvement such as subcutaneous nodules suggestive of cysticercosis. ( 5.2) • Potential Lack of Efficacy for Acute Schistosomiasis : This has been reported in observational studies ( 5.3 ). • Cardiac Arrhythmias: Bradycardia, ectopic rhythms, ventricular fibrillation, and AV blocks has been observed with Biltricide administration. Monitor patients with cardiac arrhythmias during treatment ( 5.4). 5.1 Clinical Deterioration The use of Biltricide in patients with schistosomiasis may be associated with clinical deterioration (for example, paradoxical reactions, serum sickness Jarisch-Herxheimer like reactions: sudden inflammatory immune response suspected to be caused by the release of schistosomal antigens). These reactions predominantly occur in patients treated during the acute phase of schistosomiasis. They may lead to potentially life-threatening events, for example, respiratory failure, encephalopathy, papilledema, and/or cerebral vasculitis. 5.2 Central Nervous System (CNS) Effects Biltricide can exacerbate central nervous system pathology due to schistosomiasis, paragonimiasis, or Taenia solium cysticercosis. As a general rule, consider whether to administer Biltricide to individuals reporting a history of epilepsy and/or other signs of potential central nervous systems involvement such as subcutaneous nodules suggestive of cysticercosis unless the potential benefit justifies the potential risk. Hospitalize the patient for duration of treatment when schistosomiasis or fluke infection is found to be associated with cerebral cysticercosis. 5.3 Potential Lack of Efficacy During the Acute Phase of Schistosomiasis Data from two observational cohort studies in patients indicate that treatment with Biltricide in the acute phase of infection may not prevent progression from asymptomatic infection to

Monitoring

• 5 WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS • Clinical Deterioration : Potentially life threatening clinical deterioration can occur in patients treated during the acute phase of schistosomiasis.
• ( 5.1 ) • Central Nervous System (CNS) Effects : Biltricide can exacerbate central nervous system pathology due to schistosomiasis.
• Consider whether to administer to individuals reporting a history of epilepsy and/or other signs of potential central nervous systems involvement such as subcutaneous nodules suggestive of cysticercosis.
• ( 5.2) • Potential Lack of Efficacy for Acute Schistosomiasis : This has been reported in observational studies ( 5.3 ).

Interaction Notes

• 7 DRUG INTERACTIONS Moderate CYP 3A Inducers : Avoid concomitant administration of moderate CYP 3A inducers, for example, efavirenz ( 5.6 , 7.1 ) 7.1 CYP 3A Inducers Strong and Moderate CYP 3A Inducers Concomitant administration of Biltricide with Strong and Moderate CYP 3A inducers decrease praziquantel AUC and Cmax [see Clinical Pharmacology ( 12.3 )] which may reduce the efficacy of Biltricide.
• Concomitant administration of a Strong CYP 3A inducer, such as rifampin, with Biltricide is contraindicated [see Contraindications ( 4)] .
• Concomitant administration of a Moderate CYP 3A inducer, such as efavirenz, should be avoided unless the benefit outweighs the risks [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.6 ) and Clinical Pharmacology ( 12.3 ).] 7.2 CYP450 inhibitors Concomitant administration of drugs that decrease the activity of drug metabolizing liver enzymes (CYP450 inhibitors), for example, cimetidine, ketoconazole, itraconazole, erythromycin, and ritonavir may increase plasma concentrations of praziquantel.
• In addition, grapefruit juice was also reported to produce a 1.6-fold increase in the C max and a 1.9-fold increase in the AUC of praziquantel.