Ovex

What is Ovex?

Ovex is a medication that treats threadworms, which are also known as pinworms. It’s available as a single-dose tablet, oral suspension (liquid) or family pack.

Threadworms are parasitic worms that infect the gut and large intestines, and lay eggs around your anus. They are tiny, white, and look like white cotton threads. They’re a very common worm infection, and tend to affect children more than adults. It’s estimated that up to 40% of children of primary school age in the UK may become infected with threadworms,^[1]as well as more than a billion people worldwide.^[2] Once a person is infected, it’s very easily transmitted to other household members. They can live inside your intestine for up to six weeks.

Around 40% of people^[2] with threadworms may be asymptomatic (have no symptoms). As the female threadworm lays eggs at night around the anus, it also releases mucus, which can cause severe symptoms like itching (most common), insomnia, stomach aches, appetite changes, weight loss, and bedwetting. Once you start itching, it’s very easy to spread the eggs from your fingers to other members of your household and shared items like food and linen.

How does Ovex work?

The active ingredient in Ovex is called mebendazole. Mebendazole is a type of anthelmintic, a type of medicine used to treat worm infections. Mebendazole is the most common type of worm treatment in the UK^[3] Mebendazole is used as a one-dose treatment for threadworms and works to stop the worms from using glucose (sugar). Without sugar, the threadworms die from lack of energy. They’re then passed out in your stool.

However, mebendazole doesn’t kill the eggs of threadworms. So it’s important to maintain good hygiene practices to reduce the risk of reinfection. It is also highly recommended to take a second dose a couple of weeks later if reinfection is suspected. All members of your household must take Ovex, ideally at the same time.

Who can take Ovex?

Anyone can get threadworms if they’ve been in close contact with someone who has it. It can spread through shared spaces and household items so it’s safer to assume if one household member has it then the rest of the household could also be infected. Ovex comes in a family pack so everyone can take it at the same time. It also comes in a liquid suspension so it’s easier to take. Don’t use this medicine if you’re pregnant or if it’s for a child under two.

If you’re taking a medication such as metronidazole for a bacterial infection, or Cimetidine for excess stomach acidity, then you also shouldn’t take Ovex. If you’re unsure about any other medications you’re taking, speak to our clinicians first.

How to take Ovex

Take Ovex as instructed by your clinician.

For Ovex Tablets:

• take one tablet and swallow it whole or chew it

For Ovex Suspension:

• shake the bottle first
• measure out 5 ml using the cup
• swallow it whole

Your clinician might advise you to take a second dose two weeks later. Repeat the steps if you do.

Other measures to take to ensure you don’t get reinfected include:

• wash your hands frequently and thoroughly (such as before eating or after using the bathroom)
• scrub under your finger nails frequently and keep them short
• wear tight-fitting clothing and underwear at bedtime (and change them in the morning)
• have a shower every morning
• wash your pyjamas, linens, towels and soft furnishings at a hot temperature
• rinse your toothbrushes
• disinfect common area surfaces, vacuum and dust.

How long does Ovex take to work?

The medicine should start to work right away. It can take a few days (around 3) to kill all the threadworms, then you’ll pass them out in your stool. Ovex won’t kill the threadworms’ eggs though, so it’s important to stay on top of hygiene as the lifespan of threadworms is approximately six weeks. You can take another dose of Ovex after two weeks to ensure that the threadworms don’t come back and lay more eggs. Ovex is 90-100% effective at killing threadworms^[1] so you can rest assured it’s an effective treatment.

What if I make a mistake taking Ovex?

For other worm infections, you might have to take a dose twice a day or as a three-day course. But for threadworms, you only take one tablet (one dose) or one 5ml cup (which is provided). If you follow the instructions on how to take it you shouldn’t overdose or make a mistake. If you’re experiencing any symptoms like cramps, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea you should go to the hospital to A&E.