Vermox

What is Vermox?

Vermox is a chewable tablet designed to kill threadworm, that you can also get as an oral suspension fluid. It’s given as one dose, and sometimes another dose a couple of weeks later.

Worm conditions are common, especially amongst children. It happens when small, parasitic worms infect the large intestine. They can live there for up to six weeks before hatching eggs, and starting the whole process all over again.

Threadworm is easy to miss as the condition doesn’t always show symptoms. Less severe symptoms include itching around the anus, and worms in your stools or on your bedclothes.

The worms look like a thin, white thread and are around a centimetre in length. More severe and stubborn infections can cause weight loss, loss of appetite, insomnia, skin infections and bedwetting. In rare cases, the worms can even infect the liver or urinary tract and sometimes the reproductive system in women.

How does Vermox work?

Vermox contains the active ingredient mebendazole. Mebendazole stops threadworm from absorbing glucose. Worms need glucose so that they can continue to survive. Once they go a few days without being able to get any, they die from a lack of sugar. Once killed, they’re passed out of your body amongst your stools.

A second dose of Vermox might need to be taken around two weeks after the first to stop the risk of reinfection. All members of your household will need treatment when traces of threadworm have been present, because it’s highly contagious. We can help you with this.

What forms of Vermox are there?

You can get it in a solution or tablet form, depending on which you prefer. The tablet comes as a 100mg dose and the suspension fluid as a 100mg dose per 5ml. For pinworms, it’s just one dose and sometimes a second a couple of weeks later. For other worm conditions, it’s normally a three day course.

How to take Vermox

Always take Vermox exactly as our doctor has told you to.

For Vermox suspension fluid:

• Give the bottle a quick shake.
• Pour 5ml of suspension fluid using the cup provided, and swallow as a single dose.
• Your doctor might advise you to take a second dose two weeks later. If so, then the same instructions apply.

Vermox tablets:

• For threadworms, take one tablet and swallow it whole or chew it.
• Your doctor might advise you to take a second dose two weeks later. If so, then the same instructions apply.

How long does it take Vermox to work?

After treatment, it should only take a couple of days for the worms to pass in your stools. But because threadworm is so easily spread, it’s very important that you wash your hands after going to the toilet and before touching any shared surfaces. Make sure you also wash your towels and bedding after treatment.

What should I do if I make a mistake when taking Vermox?

For some worm conditions you only need one dose, with a second a couple of weeks later. But for other conditions, it’s a three day course. If you miss a dose, let us know, and we’ll advise you on what to do next.

Medically reviewed by

Dr Daniel Atkinson

GP Clinical Lead

on August 02, 2022.

Meet Daniel