Baby Safety / Compounds / Albendazole

Is Albendazole safe for babies and kids?

Elevated risk for kids

Infants have immature drug-metabolizing enzymes (CYP450 ontogeny), reduced renal clearance, and different volume of distribution. Accidental exposure or breast milk transfer of Albendazole poses heightened risk.

What is albendazole?

The IUPAC name is methyl N-(6-propylsulfanyl-1H-benzimidazol-2-yl)carbamate.

Also known as: methyl N-(6-propylsulfanyl-1H-benzimidazol-2-yl)carbamate, Albenza, Eskazole, Zentel.

IUPAC name
methyl N-(6-propylsulfanyl-1H-benzimidazol-2-yl)carbamate
CAS number
54965-21-8
Molecular formula
C12H15N3O2S
Molecular weight
265.33 g/mol
SMILES
CCCSC1=CC2=C(C=C1)N=C(N2)NC(=O)OC
PubChem CID
2082

Risk for babies

Elevated risk

Infants have immature drug-metabolizing enzymes (CYP450 ontogeny), reduced renal clearance, and different volume of distribution. Accidental exposure or breast milk transfer of Albendazole poses heightened risk.

Neonates and infants up to 12 months have incomplete blood-brain barrier development, immature Phase I/II metabolic enzymes (particularly CYP3A4, UGT1A1), and higher gastrointestinal permeability. Equivalent doses produce higher internal concentrations and longer residence times.

What to do: Minimize infant exposure through source control. For breastfeeding mothers: reduce maternal exposure. For formula-fed infants: use certified low-migration bottles and verified water sources. Consult pediatrician regarding any concerns.

Risk for pregnant and nursing people

High risk

Albendazole presents high risk during pregnancy. Albendazole is contraindicated in pregnancy based on demonstrated embryotoxicity and teratogenicity in rats, rabbits, and mice at doses within the human therapeutic range (mg/m² basis). Malformations include skeletal defects, exencephaly, cleft palate, and fetal loss. Human fetal exposure data are limited (mostly inadvertent first-trimester exposures); while some retrospective data have not shown a clear human teratogenic signal, animal data across three species at clinical dose levels mandate contraindication. Women of childbearing potential should: confirm negative pregnancy test before starting; use effective contraception throughout treatment and for one month after final dose. WHO LF MDA programs explicitly exclude pregnant women from receiving albendazole in annual drug administration campaigns.

Regulatory consensus

1 regulatory bodyhas classified Albendazole.

AgencyYearClassificationNotes
IARC2023Not evaluated by IARC as carcinogenic — albendazole is an FDA-approved benzimidazole anthelmintic (prescription) for cystic echinococcosis and neurocysticercosis; WHO Essential Medicine; classified Pregnancy Category D (US historical)/contraindicated in pregnancy based on demonstrated teratogenicity and embryotoxicity in multiple animal species; no carcinogenicity classification

Regulators apply different standards of evidence — animal-data weighting, exposure-pattern assumptions, epidemiological power thresholds — which is why two scientific bodies can review the same data and reach different conclusions. The disagreement is the data.

Where kids encounter albendazole

  • Industrial Facilities — Manufacturing plants, Chemical storage areas, Waste treatment sites
  • Occupational Environments — Factories, Warehouses, Transportation vehicles

Safer alternatives

Lower-risk approaches that achieve a similar outcome to Albendazole:

  • Alternative drug class; Non-pharmacological therapy; Lowest effective dose
    Trade-offs: Direct chemical substitution requires verification that the replacement does not introduce new hazards (regrettable substitution). Conduct full hazard assessment of proposed alternative before adoption.
    Relative cost: 1.2-2×

Frequently asked questions

Is albendazole safe for kids?

Infants have immature drug-metabolizing enzymes (CYP450 ontogeny), reduced renal clearance, and different volume of distribution. Accidental exposure or breast milk transfer of Albendazole poses heightened risk.

What products contain albendazole?

Albendazole appears in: Manufacturing plants (Industrial facilities); Chemical storage areas (Industrial facilities); Factories (Occupational environments); Warehouses (Occupational environments).

What should I do if my child is exposed to albendazole?

Minimize infant exposure through source control. For breastfeeding mothers: reduce maternal exposure. For formula-fed infants: use certified low-migration bottles and verified water sources. Consult pediatrician regarding any concerns.

See Albendazole in the baby app

Look up products containing albendazole, compare to alternatives, and explore the full data record.

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Sources (1)
  1. Albendazole FDA Albenza Prescription; Echinococcosis Neurocysticercosis Lymphatic Filariasis WHO MDA; WHO Essential Medicine; Pregnancy Contraindicated Teratogenic Embryotoxic Multiple Species; Albendazole Sulfoxide Active Metabolite CYP3A4; Bone Marrow Suppression CBC Monitoring; Transaminase Elevation Hepatotoxicity; Anti-epileptic Corticosteroid Neurocysticercosis; IARC Not Evaluated (2023) — regulatory

Reference data, not professional advice. Aggregates publicly available regulatory and scientific data; not a substitute for veterinary, medical, legal, or regulatory advice. Why we built ALETHEIA →