Drug reference

diethylcarbamazine citrate

Anthelmintic, Microfilaricidal

CDSCO approved

EXCRETION

—

not curated

INTERACTIONS

—

none in our sources

PREGNANCY

—

not curated

Mechanism

Primarily microfilaricidal, it has a highly selective effect on microfilariae by altering their organelle membranes, promoting cell death. It may also affect the muscular activity of microfilariae and adult worms, causing their dislodgement. Prolonged treatment may kill adult Brugia malayi and Wuchereria bancrofti worms, making it a slow-acting macrofilaricidal agent.

Indications

Filariasis (Wuchereria bancrofti, Brugia malayi)Tropical pulmonary eosinophiliaLoa loa infectionOnchocerca volvulus infection (with caution, ivermectin preferred)

Dosing

Adult: Filariasis: 2 mg/kg TDS (for 7 days). For radical cure, total dose of 72–126 mg/kg spread over 12 days to 3 weeks. Mass treatment: 6 mg/kg single dose annually (with albendazole 400 mg). Tropical pulmonary eosinophilia: 2–4 mg/kg TDS for 2–3 weeks. Loa loa and O. volvulus: small (25–50 mg) test dose initially.
Pediatric: Same as adult dosing for filariasis.