Foods and Beverages to Avoid While Taking Zentel (Albendazole)

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Written By Julie Ingram
A woman saying no to some foods that you should avoid while taking medicine and yes to some foods that are kept on the table in front of her

Zentel (Albendazole) is a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved drug used to get rid of intestinal parasites.

Some foods and beverages can cause side effects, such as Nausea and vomiting.

Others can make the medication less effective by causing the parasite to build up resistance. 

Therefore, this decreases the efficacy of Zentel.

When it comes to foods and beverages to avoid while taking Albendazole, there are a few guidelines that you should adhere to.

Some foods and beverages can interact with Zentel (Albendazole) and cause unnecessary side effects. 

How does Zentel work

Zentel (Albendazole) belongs to a class of medication called Anthelmintic, which means anti-worm drug.

Zentel rages war against parasites by shutting off their sugar and starch supply. 

This war starves the parasites and makes them weak.

After which, Zentel 400mg paralyzes the parasites and kills them.

Zentel syrup or pill starts showing effects within 2-5 hours of consuming it.

It remains active inside your body during this duration, which may lead to minor side effects.

To understand what happens after taking Zentel, read this articleWhat to Expect After Taking Zentel (Albendazole)?

What are intestinal parasites

A bunch of parasites floating inside the body
Dr_Microbe / Getty Images

Intestinal parasites are tiny organisms that can live inside the human body for years and feed off of them.

Intestinal parasites can cause various symptoms in humans, including itching, abdominal pain, and even diarrhea.

In some cases, parasites can lead to more severe illnesses.

For example, some parasites can cause Visceral Larva Migran, which causes the intestines to be inflamed.

You may need to use worm medicines to tackle this situation.

Beverages to avoid while taking Zentel

In foods and beverages to avoid while taking, alcohol ranks at number one.

Whether it’s a pint of brewed beer or a glass of single malt scotch, you aren’t allowed to have it while you’re on Zentel.

WebMD firmly believes that you should not consume alcohol while taking this medicine because it can harm your liver.

Zentel releases liver enzymes that can cause harm to our liver if we consume alcoholic beverages.

Not sure about where to buy this medicine? Find the guidance in this articleWhere Can I Buy Zentel Worm Medicine?

Foods to avoid while taking Zentel (Albendazole)

There is very little research on foods to avoid while taking Albendazole.

Grapefruit has been very controversial in this aspect.

There is an ongoing debate on whether or not grapefruit and grapefruit juice should be consumed while taking Zentel.

An article from WebMD warns us not to drink grapefruit juice as it could be harmful to our bodies.

On the contrary, another article from drugs.com states boldly that consuming grapefruit and grapefruit juice can increase our body’s ability to absorb the medicine.

Therefore, you can either choose to take it or avoid it altogether, depending on which side to lean towards.

However, it is wise to avoid it and not take any chances.

If Albendazole is not producing the desired results in your case, consider using Mebendazole as an alternative. To understand the detailed differences between the two, read this articleMebendazole vs Albendazole

What foods can replace Zentel worm medicine?

Research in this field is scarce, although there are some foods that kill intestinal worms.

  • Consuming foods rich in beta-carotene can help elevate Vitamin A levels in the body. This can help increase our immunity against worms that have taken your stomach hostage.
  • Foods like raw garlic and papaya seeds are also healthy foods for a clean tummy. 
  • Berberine-rich foods are also famous for killing intestinal worms.

To learn more remedies to ward off intestinal Parasites naturally, refer to this articleHow to Get Rid of Worms and Parasites in Humans Without Medication?