Niclosamide

Niclosamide

Systematic (IUPAC) name
5-chloro-N-(2-chloro-4-nitrophenyl)-2-hydroxybenzamide
Clinical data
AHFS/Drugs.com	Micromedex Detailed Consumer Information
Pregnancy cat.	?
Legal status	?
Identifiers
CAS number	50-65-7 N
ATC code	P02DA01 QP52AG03
PubChem	CID 4477
DrugBank	DB06803
ChemSpider	4322 Y
UNII	8KK8CQ2K8G Y
KEGG	D00436 Y
ChEMBL	CHEMBL1448 Y
Chemical data
Formula	C13H8Cl2N2O4
Mol. mass	327.119 g/mol
SMILES	eMolecules & PubChem
InChI InChI=1S/C13H8Cl2N2O4/c14-7-1-4-12(18)9(5-7)13(19)16-11-3-2-8(17(20)21)6-10(11)15/h1-6,18H,(H,16,19) Y Key:RJMUSRYZPJIFPJ-UHFFFAOYSA-N Y
N (what is this?)  (verify)

Niclosamide (trade name Niclocide) is a teniacide ("tenia-" referring to tapeworm) in the anthelmintic family especially effective against cestodes that infect humans. It is also used as a piscicide.It is stressed that while antihelmintics are a drug family used to treat worm infections, Niclosamide is used specifically to treat tapeworms and is not effective against worms such as pinworms or roundworms. It is a chewable tablet taken orally, dosage depending on type of worm and patient's age and/or weight. Niclosamide molecules are lethal to tapeworms upon contact.

Side effects

The medication can have side effects such as abdominal pain, anorexia, diarrhea, and emesis. Rarely, dizziness, skin rash, drowsiness, perianal itching, and an unpleasant taste.

Mechanism of action

According to an article in Nature, niclosamide uncouples oxidative phosphorylation in the tapeworm.

References

• Taber, Clarence Wilbur; Venes, Donald; Thomas, Clayton L. (2001). Taber's cyclopedic medical dictionary. Philadelphia: F.A.Davis Co. 
• Additional Medication Information:Medline
• http://www.drugs.com/cons/Niclosamide.html