Child under 10 years: 0.5 mg/kg on D1, then increase the dose gradually over 3 days to 1 mg/kg 3 times daily
Child over 10 years and adult: 1 mg/kg on D1, then increase the dose gradually over 3 days to 2 mg/kg 3 times daily
Duration
W. bancrofti: 12 days
B. malayi,B. timori: 6 to 12 days
Contra-indications, adverse effects, precautions
Do not administer to patients with onchocerciasis or heavy Loa loa microfilareamia; to infants, older patients and patients with heart or renal diseases.
Do not administer during acute attacks(risk of severe reactions).
Administer with caution in patients with history of seizures.
in patientswith associated onchocerciasis: severe ocular damages (optic nerve lesions, retinal lesions);
in patients with associated loiasis:encephalitis (potentially fatal) if Loa loa microfilaraemia is high.
Reduce dosage in patients with renal impairment.
Pregnancy: CONTRA-INDICATED (treatment may be deferred until after delivery)
Breast-feeding: not recommended
Remarks
In countries with a national programme for the elimination of bancroftian filariasis, the combination diethylcarbamazine + albendazole is administered as a single annual dose for 4 to 6 years. This regimen is only suitable for countries that are free from Onchocerca volvulus and/or Loa loa.