Side effects include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and itchiness. It may be used during pregnancy.[3] It works by blocking
glucose uptake and
oxidative phosphorylation by the worm.[4]
Side effects include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain,
constipation, and itchiness.[3] Rarely, dizziness, skin rash, drowsiness, perianal itching, or an unpleasant taste occur. For some of these reasons,
praziquantel is a preferable and equally effective treatment for tapeworm infestation.[citation needed]
Important Note: Niclosamide kills the pork tapeworm and results in its digestion. This then may cause a multitude of viable eggs to be released and may result in
cysticercosis. Therefore, a purge should be given 1 or two hours after treatment. CNS cysticercosis is a life-threatening condition and may require brain surgery.[8][9]
Mechanism of action
Niclosamide inhibits
glucose uptake, oxidative
phosphorylation, and anaerobic metabolism in the tapeworm.[10]
Other applications
Niclosamide's metabolic effects are relevant to a wide ranges of organisms, and accordingly it has been applied as a control measure to organisms other than tapeworms. For example, it is an active ingredient in some formulations such as Bayluscide for killing
lamprey larvae,[11][12] as a molluscide,[13] and as a general purpose piscicide in aquaculture. Niclosamide has a short half-life in water in field conditions; this makes it valuable in ridding commercial fish ponds of unwanted fish; it loses its activity soon enough to permit re-stocking within a few days of eradicating the previous population.[13] Researchers have found that niclosamide is effective in killing invasive
zebra mussels in cool waters.[14]
Research
Niclosamide is under investigation for applications against types of cancer,[15] bacterial infections,[16] or viral infections.[17][18]
In 2018, niclosamide was observed to be a potent activator of
PTEN-induced kinase 1 in primary cortical neurons.[19]
^Lanusse CE, Alvarez LI, Sallovitz JM, Mottier ML, Sanchez Bruni SF (13 May 2013).
"Antinematodal Drugs". In Riviere JE, Papich MG (eds.). Veterinary Pharmacology and Therapeutics. John Wiley & Sons. p. 1096.
ISBN978-1-118-68590-7.
Archived from the original on 10 September 2017.
^World Health Organization (2019). World Health Organization model list of essential medicines: 21st list 2019. Geneva: World Health Organization.
hdl:10665/325771. WHO/MVP/EMP/IAU/2019.06. License: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO.