Praziquantel is absorbed, metabolized in the liver, and excreted in the bile. Upon entering the digestive tract from the bile, cestocidal activity is exhibited. Following exposure to praziquantel, the tapeworm loses its ability to resist digestion by the mammalian host. Because of this, whole tapeworms, including the scolices (plural of "scolex"), are very rarely passed after administration of praziquantel. In many instances, only disintegrated and partially digested pieces of tapeworms will be seen in the stool. The majority of tapeworms are digested and are not found in the feces. "Praziquantel is administered as a racemate, but only the (R)-enantiomer is biologically active; the enantiomers may be separated using a resolution of an amine obtained from praziquantel. Pharmacokinetics
Praziquantel is well absorbed (about 80%) from the gastrointestinal tract. However, due to extensive first-pass metabolism, only a relatively small amount enters systemic circulation. Praziquantel has a serum half-life of 0.8 to 1.5 hours in adults with normal renal and liver function. Metabolites have a half-life of 4 to 5 hours. In patients with significantly impaired liver function (Child-Pugh score B and C), the serum half-life is increased to 3 to 8 hours. Praziquantel and its metabolites are mainly excreted renally; within 24 h after a single oral dose, 70 to 80% is found in urine, but less than 0.1% as the unchanged drug. Praziquantel is metabolized through the cytochrome P450 pathway via CYP3A4. Agents that induce or inhibit CYP3A4 such as phenytoin, rifampin, and azole antifungals will affect the metabolism of praziquantel.
Kaicide (Taiwan)
Milbemax (combination with milbemycin oxime) (Novartis) for veterinary use
Popantel (Jurox)
PraziPro (Hikari) for aquarium use
Praz-Tastic (NFP/National Fish Pharmaceuticals) for aquarium use
Pure Prazi (COTS Koi/Children of the Sun Koi) for aquarium use
PraziPure (J.K.O., Inc. d/b/a Kodama Koi Farm & Kodama Koi Garden; licensed by COTS Koi) for aquarium use
Profender (combination with emodepside) (Bayer) for veterinary use
Tape Worm Tabs (Trade Winds) for veterinary use
Zentozide (Berich (Thailand) Co)

Regulatory approval
Praziquantel is on the World Health Organizations List of Essential Medicines.Praziquantel is not licensed for use in humans in the UK, but it can be imported when necessary on a named-patient basis. It is available in the UK as a veterinary anthelmintic. Praziquantel is FDA approved in the US for the treatment of schistosomiasis and liver flukes, although it is effective in other infections. Veterinary medicine
Salmon poisoning disease
Diplozoon paradoxum and other Trematoda infections of many fish speciesIt may cause problems in dogs with MDR1 mutations. See also
Fenbendazole
Oxfendazole
Nocodazole

References
External links

"Praziquantel (Rx) Biltricide". Medscape. WebMD. Retrieved 2015-11-01. "Praziquantel". Drug Information Portal. U.S. National Library of Medicine.