Mebendazole tablet dissolving quickly to eliminate parasitic worms.

Mebendazole Revolution: Faster Tablets for a Healthier Gut?

Nico Varela in Health & Wellness December 2025 • 4 min read.

"New research optimizes the formulation of mebendazole tablets for faster disintegration and improved drug delivery, potentially revolutionizing treatment for parasitic infections."

Intestinal worm infections are a global health concern, affecting millions worldwide. Mebendazole (MBZ) is a widely used medication to combat these infections, but its effectiveness can be limited by its poor solubility and absorption in the body.

MBZ's low bioavailability means that a significant portion of the drug doesn't reach the targeted areas, impacting its ability to eliminate parasites, especially in hard-to-reach areas like the liver or brain. This is especially concerning for extraintestinal helminthic infections (EIHs), where higher drug concentrations are needed.

Recognizing these limitations, researchers are exploring new ways to improve MBZ's performance. The focus is on creating fast-disintegrating tablets that dissolve quickly in the mouth, potentially leading to better absorption and faster relief. Let's dive into a recent study that tackles this challenge head-on, seeking a more effective way to deliver this essential medication.

The Science of Speed: How to Make Mebendazole Work Faster

Mebendazole tablet dissolving quickly to eliminate parasitic worms.

The key to unlocking MBZ's full potential lies in enhancing its solubility. A recent study explored the use of nicotinamide (NIC), a form of vitamin B3, as a hydrotropic agent. Hydrotropy is a process that uses certain substances to increase the solubility of poorly soluble drugs in water. The researchers discovered that NIC significantly boosts MBZ's solubility, making it more readily available for absorption.

To create a fast-disintegrating tablet, the scientists experimented with different combinations of excipients—inactive ingredients that help the tablet dissolve and get absorbed quickly. They focused on:

Crospovidone: A superdisintegrant that helps the tablet break down rapidly.
Microcrystalline Cellulose (MCC): A binder that provides structural integrity to the tablet.
Mannitol (MNTL): A sugar alcohol that improves the tablet's taste and dissolution.

By carefully adjusting the ratios of these ingredients, the researchers aimed to achieve the perfect balance of rapid disintegration, structural integrity, and drug release. The goal was to create a tablet that not only dissolves quickly but also delivers the MBZ effectively.

A New Era for Mebendazole and Parasitic Infection Treatment?

This research paves the way for a new generation of MBZ tablets that dissolve faster, absorb better, and ultimately provide more effective treatment for parasitic infections. The use of nicotinamide to boost solubility, combined with carefully selected excipients, holds promise for improved patient outcomes.

While further research is needed to confirm these findings in clinical trials, the potential benefits are clear. Faster-acting MBZ tablets could lead to:

<ul><li>Improved treatment outcomes for intestinal and extraintestinal helminthic infections.</li><li>Reduced dosing frequency and fewer side effects.</li><li>Increased patient compliance, especially among children and those who have difficulty swallowing pills.</li></ul>

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.4172/0975-0851.1000382, Alternate LINK

Title: Formulation, Optimization And In Vitro Evaluation Of Solubility Enhanced Fast Disintegrating Tablets Of Mebendazole

Subject: Pharmaceutical Science

Journal: Journal of Bioequivalence & Bioavailability

Publisher: OMICS Publishing Group

Authors: Desta Assefa, Anteneh Belete, Nisha M.Joseph

Published: 2018-01-01

Everything You Need To Know

What is Mebendazole and why is it used?

Mebendazole (MBZ) is a medication used to combat intestinal worm infections, which are a global health concern. It works by interfering with the parasites' ability to absorb glucose, leading to their eventual starvation and death. However, the effectiveness of Mebendazole can be limited by its poor solubility and absorption in the body, meaning that not all of the drug reaches the targeted areas. This can impact its ability to eliminate parasites, especially in hard-to-reach areas like the liver or brain, and is concerning for extraintestinal helminthic infections (EIHs).

How are researchers trying to improve Mebendazole's effectiveness?

The scientists are focusing on creating fast-disintegrating Mebendazole (MBZ) tablets that dissolve quickly in the mouth. The key to improving MBZ's performance lies in enhancing its solubility. A recent study explored the use of nicotinamide (NIC), a form of vitamin B3, as a hydrotropic agent. Hydrotropy uses certain substances to increase the solubility of poorly soluble drugs in water. The researchers found that NIC significantly boosts MBZ's solubility, making it more readily available for absorption. The study also used different combinations of excipients such as Crospovidone, Microcrystalline Cellulose (MCC), and Mannitol (MNTL).

What is the main problem with Mebendazole?

The main issue is the low bioavailability of Mebendazole (MBZ). This means that a significant portion of the drug doesn't get absorbed into the body, limiting its effectiveness in treating parasitic infections. Poor solubility is a major factor, making it difficult for the drug to dissolve and be absorbed in the digestive system. This can lead to lower drug concentrations in the targeted areas, especially in cases of extraintestinal helminthic infections (EIHs), where higher drug concentrations are needed to eliminate parasites.

What are the roles of Crospovidone, Microcrystalline Cellulose, and Mannitol in the new tablets?

Crospovidone is used as a superdisintegrant to help the tablet break down rapidly. Microcrystalline Cellulose (MCC) is a binder that provides structural integrity to the tablet, ensuring it doesn't fall apart before it's supposed to. Mannitol (MNTL) is a sugar alcohol used to improve the tablet's taste and dissolution. The careful adjustment of the ratios of these ingredients helps achieve the perfect balance of rapid disintegration, structural integrity, and drug release, aiming to create a tablet that dissolves quickly and delivers Mebendazole (MBZ) effectively.

How does Nicotinamide help Mebendazole work better?

Nicotinamide (NIC) is a form of vitamin B3 used as a hydrotropic agent to boost the solubility of Mebendazole (MBZ). Hydrotropy is a process that uses certain substances to increase the solubility of poorly soluble drugs in water. The researchers found that NIC significantly boosts MBZ's solubility, making it more readily available for absorption. This is a crucial step in improving the drug's effectiveness because it ensures a higher concentration of MBZ can reach the parasites and eliminate them more efficiently, especially in areas like the liver or brain where it is difficult to reach. This is also particularly important for extraintestinal helminthic infections (EIHs).