Vermox (Mebendazole) 100 mg Chewable Tablets

Vermox is the branded chewable tablet form of mebendazole, an anthelmintic medicine used to treat susceptible intestinal worm infections such as threadworm (pinworm), roundworm, whipworm and hookworm. It acts mainly within the gut to disable the parasites and help clear them from the bowel. Vermox is supplied as a 100 mg oral chewable tablet for adults and children over two years of age.

What Vermox is and how it works

Mebendazole belongs to the benzimidazole group of anthelmintics. It binds to beta-tubulin inside susceptible worm cells and prevents the formation of microtubules. Without functioning microtubules, the worms cannot use glucose efficiently, their energy stores become depleted and they are cleared from the bowel over the following days. Because mebendazole is only minimally absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract, its action remains largely confined to the gut during standard short courses.

Treatment does not necessarily produce an immediate visible result, and worms may not be noticed in the stool. Symptoms such as itching can take several days to settle. Persistent or returning symptoms do not automatically mean that a larger dose is needed; they may reflect reinfection, a different worm species or another condition requiring assessment.

How Vermox is taken

Vermox is supplied as a 100 mg chewable tablet taken by mouth. The tablet can be chewed thoroughly or swallowed whole with a little water. It may be taken with or without food, and routine treatment does not require fasting, a special diet or a laxative. A fatty meal can increase the amount of mebendazole absorbed into the bloodstream, however, so the ability to take Vermox with food should not be interpreted as meaning that food has no effect on absorption.

Usual regimens

For threadworm infection, a single 100 mg dose is generally used. A repeat dose may be advised after two to four weeks when reinfection is suspected or remains a concern. For roundworm, whipworm, hookworm or mixed infections, the typical general regimen is 100 mg twice daily, morning and evening, for three consecutive days. The exact regimen and need for repeat treatment depend on the worm involved and advice from a pharmacist or doctor. These patterns are general medicine information rather than an individual treatment recommendation.

Children and household treatment

The same 100 mg dose is generally used for children over two years of age because standard dosing for these common intestinal infections is not weight-based. Mebendazole is not usually recommended for children under two years without a specific benefit-risk assessment, as safety information is limited and convulsions have rarely been reported in this age group.

Threadworm spreads easily through microscopic eggs on hands, bedding and household surfaces. A pharmacist or doctor may advise treatment of eligible household members at the same time, but each person's age, pregnancy status and other health factors still need consideration. Handwashing, short clean fingernails, morning bathing, daily underwear changes and regular washing of sleepwear and bedding help reduce reinfection. These measures are particularly important during the weeks after a dose because mebendazole kills worms but does not reliably destroy every egg already present in the environment.

Mebendazole, pyrantel and albendazole

Mebendazole and pyrantel are both commonly considered for threadworm, but they work in different ways: mebendazole disrupts parasite microtubules and energy use, while pyrantel paralyses susceptible worms. Albendazole is another benzimidazole with activity against a range of intestinal worms and greater systemic exposure after absorption. Praziquantel and niclosamide are used for particular tapeworm or fluke infections rather than as interchangeable choices for every common intestinal worm. The most useful option depends on the likely species, local recommendations, age, pregnancy or breastfeeding status, interactions and whether infection has been confirmed.

Available strength and pack sizes

We stock Vermox as 100 mg chewable tablets, which is the only strength offered for this product. Australian customers can choose packs containing 90, 120, 180, 270 or 360 tablets. These quantities are larger than the number of tablets used in many standard individual courses, so pack size should not be used to determine the dose or duration. Select a quantity according to planned, appropriate use and pharmacist or doctor guidance, and do not extend or repeat treatment merely because tablets remain in the pack.

Safety, interactions and side effects

Vermox is contraindicated during pregnancy because animal studies have identified potential embryotoxic and teratogenic effects. It is also contraindicated in anyone with known hypersensitivity to mebendazole or another tablet ingredient. Mebendazole should be used with caution during breastfeeding. Only small amounts may pass into breast milk, but reduced milk supply has been reported, so a pharmacist or doctor can help weigh the need for treatment and whether milk production should be observed.

Interactions worth knowing

Mebendazole is metabolised in the liver, and some medicines can alter its exposure. Cimetidine may increase mebendazole levels by slowing its breakdown, while enzyme-inducing anticonvulsants such as carbamazepine or phenytoin can reduce plasma levels. Concurrent use with metronidazole should be avoided because severe skin reactions, including Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis, have rarely been reported with the combination. Tell a pharmacist or doctor about all medicines and supplements being used before treatment, especially if a longer or higher-dose course is being considered.

Common and rare effects

Short courses are generally well tolerated. Abdominal pain, diarrhoea, nausea, wind and headache can occur, particularly when the worm burden is high. Stop taking the medicine and seek urgent medical help for facial swelling, breathing difficulty, blistering or peeling skin, widespread rash or another sign of a serious allergic or skin reaction.

Rare effects, mainly associated with prolonged or high-dose therapy, include low white blood cell counts, hepatitis and abnormal liver enzyme results. When extended treatment is medically necessary, a doctor may arrange periodic liver function tests and a full blood count. This monitoring is not routinely required for a single dose or standard three-day course in an otherwise well person. Vermox is not expected to impair alertness and does not usually interfere with driving or operating machinery.

Seek professional advice if symptoms persist after an appropriate course, repeatedly return or are accompanied by severe abdominal pain, fever, vomiting, blood in the stool, unexplained weight loss or signs of dehydration. Testing or a different medicine may be needed when the diagnosis is uncertain or the suspected parasite is not susceptible to mebendazole.

Storing your tablets

Store Vermox tablets at 20°C to 25°C; brief excursions between 15°C and 30°C are permitted. Keep the tablets in their original packaging to protect them from light and moisture, and store them securely out of the reach and sight of children. Do not use tablets after the expiry date shown on the package, and ask a pharmacist how to dispose of unwanted or expired medicine rather than placing it in wastewater.

Ordering Vermox from us

Vermox 100 mg tablets are included in the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods and are classified as a Schedule 2 Pharmacy Medicine in Australia. A prescription is not required, although the medicine must be supplied from a pharmacy. Consistent with our ordering policy, we do not require a prescription to accept an order for Vermox.

We offer packs containing 90, 120, 180, 270 and 360 chewable tablets. Choose the pack quantity separately from the treatment regimen: a larger pack does not call for a higher dose, a longer course or routine preventive use. Our pharmacist-supported team is available 24/7 by email, online chat or phone if you have questions about the available pack sizes or the general medicine information on this page. We pack and dispatch orders for delivery across Australia. If you experience a suspected adverse effect while using mebendazole, speak with a pharmacist or doctor; suspected reactions can also be reported to the Therapeutic Goods Administration.