What is the drug levamisole used for?
What is the drug levamisole used for?
What is the drug levamisole used for?
USES: This medication stimulates the body’s immune system to help treat and protect against illness. It is used in combination with other medications in the treatment of colon cancer.
Is levamisole over the counter?
It is not commercially available in the United States. Levamisole is also used as a dewormer for livestock.
Is levamisole illegal?
Levamisole is an immunomodulatory agent that was used to treat various cancers before being withdrawn from the United States market in 2000 because of adverse effects. Levamisole is currently approved as an antihelminthic agent in veterinary medicine, but is also being used illicitly as a cocaine adulterant.
How much does levamisole cost?
Levamisole was originally developed in the 1960s as a treatment for parasitic worm infestations in livestock. Dr Moertel noted that the veterinary formulation of the drug is priced at $14.95 per animal for a year’s supply, while for colorectal cancer treatment in humans the cost is $1,495 per annum.
What does levamisole do to humans?
Levamisole is thought to increase T-cell activation and proliferation, neutrophil mobility, adherence, and chemotaxis. It is also thought to increase the formation of antibodies to various antigens.
Is levamisole bad for humans?
“Levamisole can be highly toxic in humans, but unless you’re specifically looking for it in a urine sample, you won’t know it’s there. Physicians who treat cocaine users need to be aware of this because most users probably wouldn’t care, even if they knew the drug was contaminated with levamisole.”
How do I know if I have levamisole?
Rare
- Blurred vision.
- convulsions (seizures)
- lip smacking or puffing.
- numbness, tingling, or pain in face, hands, or feet.
- paranoia (feelings of persecution)
- puffing of cheeks.
- rapid or worm-like movements of tongue.
- trembling or shaking.
Can humans take levamisole?
Although not available for human use, levamisole remains widely used in veterinary medicine for treating worms in livestock and domesticated animals. The drug can cause agranulocytosis, as well as vasculitis, which prompted the FDA ban on human use.
What are the side effects of levamisole?
Significant adverse reactions are agranulocytosis, skin rash, and febrile illness. They occur in a small subpopulation of patients only, predominantly those with rheumatoid arthritis. Other side effects rarely necessitate discontinuation of treatment. Levamisole did not appear to cause renal or liver toxicity.
Is levamisole a steroid?
Levamisole has been considered the least toxic and least expensive steroid-sparing drug for preventing relapses of SSNS.
Does levamisole dissolve in water?
The chemical structure of levamisole is shown below. There are two common forms of levamisole, the free base and the hydrochloride salt. The molecular formula of the free base is C11H12N2S having a molecular weight of 204.3. Its melting point is 60-61.5 degrees Celsius (140-143 oF) and is not soluble in water.