PHARMACOLOGY &

THERAPEUTICS – II
Anti-parasitic Drugs
 Anti-parasitic Drugs

• Anti-parasitic drugs are one of the types of anti-microbial drugs indicated

for treating parasitic diseases, such as those caused by helminths, amoeba,
ectoparasites, parasitic fungi, protozoa, etc.
• They are used to treat various parasitic infections caused by protozoa and
helminths. These drugs work by targeting and killing the parasites or
inhibiting their growth and reproduction within the host's body.
 Parasites
• Parasites live in another organism, called the host, and often harm their hosts,
depending on their host for survival.
Types:
1. Protozoa
Examples include the single-celled unicellular malaria-causing organisms known as
plasmodium.
2. Helminths
These are worm parasites, examples include roundworms.
3. Ectoparasites
Examples include lice and fleas.
 Diseases Caused by Parasites

• Malaria
• Scabies (Skin inflammation)
• Amoebic Dysentery
• Sleeping Sickness, etc.
 Malaria

• Serious Relapsing Infections

• Periodic Attacks of Chills & Fever
• Caused by unicellular parasites of the genus Plasmodium
• Transmitted to humans by the bite of female Anopheles mosquitoes
 Anti-malarial Drugs

• Chloroquine:
Effective against malaria caused by Plasmodium species. However, resistance has developed in
certain regions.
• Artemisinin Combination Therapies (ACTs):
Combination therapies like artemether-lumefantrine and artesunate-mefloquine are now
recommended due to increased resistance to older drugs.
• Mefloquine:
Used for both the treatment and prevention of malaria but can have neuropsychiatric side effects.
 Anti-protozoal Drugs
• Metronidazole:
Effective against anaerobic protozoa like Giardia lamblia and Trichomonas
vaginalis.
• Nitazoxanide:
Used to treat diarrhea caused by Cryptosporidium parvum and Giardia lamblia.
• Ivermectin:
Effective against parasitic worms (helminths) and some external parasites like
scabies and lice.
 Anti-helminthic Drugs
• Mebendazole and Albendazole:
Broad-spectrum anthelmintics used to treat various helminthic infections, including
roundworms, hookworms, and tapeworms.

• Praziquantel:
Specific for treating infections with schistosomes and certain types of tapeworms.

• Ivermectin:
• Effective against certain types of helminths like intestinal parasites and filarial worms.
 Anti-cestodal Drugs

• Praziquantel:
Specifically used for treating tapeworm infections like Taenia solium and
Diphyllobothrium latum.

• Niclosamide:
Another drug used for tapeworm infections, particularly for the treatment of
Taenia solium.
 Anti-hepatitic Drugs

• Sofosbuvir and Daclatasvir:

Used to treat chronic hepatitis C caused by the hepatitis C virus, preventing
further liver damage and reducing the risk of complications.
 Anti-protozoal Agents

• Atovaquone-Proguanil:
A combination used for the prevention and treatment of malaria caused by
Plasmodium species.

• Quinacrine:
Historically used for treating malaria and giardiasis.
It's important to note that the choice of anti-parasitic drug
depends on the type of parasite causing the infection, the
severity of the condition, the patient's health status, and
any drug resistance patterns in the region.
THANK YOU