Albendazole is the most widely used deworming medication in Nigeria and one of the most important public health drugs in the country. Intestinal worm infections are extremely common in Nigeria, particularly among children, due to factors such as poor sanitation, contaminated water sources, open defecation, and walking barefoot on contaminated soil. Albendazole is a benzimidazole anthelmintic — a class of drugs that kills parasitic worms by disrupting their ability to absorb glucose, which starves and eventually kills them. It is the drug of choice for mass deworming campaigns conducted by the Federal Ministry of Health and various state governments across Nigeria, especially in primary schools.
In the NAFDAC register
76 registered products
from 58 registration holders
What it costs online
about ₦1,125tablets
median of 7 listings
Also sampled: syrup (6 listings, ₦900–₦2,000)
≈₦1,010 per tablet (tablet/capsule)
1% since July 2026 · like-for-like
Sampled from 13 listings across HealthPlus and MedPlus and Supermart.ng · August 2026
Full price breakdown →Brands of Albendazole in Nigeria
Comes as
- Tablet400 mg· 11 makers200 mg· 8 makers
- Suspension100 mg/5 mL· 5 makers200 mg/5 mL· 3 makers
- Chewable tablet400 mg· 4 makers
Those 76 products from 58 registration holders include combination products and older listings; below are the most common brands.
| Brand Name | Manufacturer | Strength | Form | NAFDAC Reg. No. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | GlaxoSmithKline | 200mg, 400mg | Tablet | 04-2400 |
| Alzental | Julphar | 400mg | Tablet |
Albendazole Price in Nigeria
As of August 2026, Albendazole tablets sells for about ₦1,010 per tablet online in Nigeria (packs ₦600–₦5,000) across HealthPlus and MedPlus and Supermart.ng — tablet/capsule ₦600–₦5,000, syrup/suspension ₦900–₦2,000. The online price is down 1% since July 2026. Open-market prices (e.g. Idumota, Ogbogwu) are often lower.
Online retail (sampled)
₦875 for 2 tablets
₦5,000 for 2 tablets
Same 200mg Albendazole — 5.7× the price for an identical pack, so the difference is the brand.
Tablet/Capsule
median ₦1,125 · 7 listings
CheapestZolat Albendazole 200 mg 2 Caplets(Supermart.ng)
₦875PriciestZentel 200 mg 2 Tablets(Supermart.ng)
₦5,000Syrup/Suspension
median ₦1,750 · 6 listings
CheapestZOLAT (ALBENDAZOLE) SUSPENSION 20ML(MedPlus)
₦900PriciestZENTEL SUSPENSION 20ML(MedPlus)
₦1,9002.1× the price, both 100mg/5ml
13 listings across HealthPlus + MedPlus + Supermart.ng · August 2026.
Down 1% since July 2026.
How to Verify Your Albendazole is Genuine
- 1Check the NAFDAC registration number on the packaging — all genuine albendazole products sold in Nigeria must carry a valid NAFDAC number
- 2Verify the NAFDAC number using the NAFDAC Green Book website or the NAFDAC mobile verification app available on Android and iOS
- 3Purchase from licensed pharmacies or registered patent medicine stores — avoid buying from roadside vendors, open markets, or unregistered shops
- 4Inspect the packaging for the manufacturer's details, batch number, manufacturing date, and expiry date — everything should be clearly printed
- 5Genuine albendazole tablets should have a consistent appearance — chewable tablets should be firm and uniform in colour; reject any tablets that look crumbly, discoloured, or different from what you normally use
- 6For school deworming programs, the tablets should come from officially distributed batches — check with the school or local health authority if in doubt
Where to Buy
Buying Albendazole by the carton
Cartons are bought at Nigeria's four open drug markets. Each guide names the sellers there you can contact, and how to buy safely:
No shop we list has Albendazole on its confirmed product list yet — the market guides still tell you where the trade happens and how to buy there safely.
Wherever you buy, buy only from licensed pharmacies and verified distributors — not roadside vendors — and verify the pack's NAFDAC registration before you pay. Buying Albendazole in bulk or for resale? See how to buy medicines in bulk in Nigeria safely.
Need Albendazole in bulk, or can't find it near you?
Tell us what you need and we'll connect you with a verified, NAFDAC-registered source.
What is Albendazole?
Albendazole works by binding to a protein called beta-tubulin in the cells of parasitic worms, preventing them from forming the structures they need to absorb nutrients. Without glucose, the worms cannot survive and are eventually expelled from the body. Albendazole is effective against a broad spectrum of intestinal worms including roundworms (Ascaris lumbricoides), hookworms (Ancylostoma duodenale and Necator americanus), whipworms (Trichuris trichiura), threadworms or pinworms (Enterobius vermicularis), and tapeworms. This broad-spectrum activity is what makes it ideal for mass deworming programs where multiple types of worm infections may be present simultaneously.
In Nigeria, albendazole is available under popular brand names including Zentel (by GlaxoSmithKline) and several generic versions from manufacturers like Swiss Pharma and Julphar. It is sold over the counter in pharmacies and patent medicine stores nationwide at very affordable prices. The tablets are often chewable, making them easy to administer to children during school-based deworming exercises. The World Health Organization lists albendazole as an essential medicine and recommends regular deworming every 6 months in areas where worm infections are common — a recommendation that is particularly relevant for most communities across Nigeria.
What is Albendazole used for?
In Nigeria, Albendazole is commonly used for:
- Treatment of roundworm infection (ascariasis) — the most common worm infection in Nigeria
- Treatment of hookworm infection — common in rural areas where people walk barefoot on contaminated soil
- Treatment of whipworm infection (trichuriasis)
- Treatment of threadworm/pinworm infection (enterobiasis) — common in children
- Treatment of tapeworm infection (taeniasis)
- Mass deworming programs in schools and communities as recommended by the WHO and Nigerian Federal Ministry of Health
- Treatment of strongyloidiasis and other soil-transmitted helminth infections
Dosage
IMPORTANT
Always follow your doctor's or pharmacist's instructions. The information below is for general reference only.
Adults
For most intestinal worm infections: a single dose of 400mg (one tablet), which may be repeated after 2 to 3 weeks if needed. For tapeworm and strongyloides: 400mg once daily for 3 days. For routine deworming: 400mg as a single dose every 3 to 6 months. Tablets may be chewed, swallowed whole, or crushed and mixed with food.
Children
Children over 2 years: 400mg as a single dose (same as adults) for most worm infections. Children aged 1-2 years: 200mg as a single dose. For children who cannot swallow tablets, albendazole suspension (200mg/5ml) is available — give 10ml for a 400mg dose. Chewable tablets are also widely used in school-based deworming programs. Children under 1 year: consult a doctor before use.
Elderly
Standard adult dose of 400mg applies. No dose adjustment is typically necessary for elderly patients with normal liver and kidney function.
Albendazole can be taken with or without food, but absorption is improved when taken with a fatty meal. For routine deworming, the WHO recommends treatment every 6 months in endemic areas like Nigeria. Many Nigerian families deworm every 3 months as a precaution, especially for school-age children. It is a good practice to deworm the entire family at the same time to prevent reinfection. If you see worms in your stool after taking albendazole, this is normal and means the medication is working.
Side Effects
Common side effects
- •Mild stomach pain or discomfort — usually temporary and related to the dying worms
- •Nausea or vomiting
- •Headache
- •Dizziness
- •Diarrhoea — may occur as worms are expelled from the body
Serious side effects — seek medical help immediately
- Liver problems (hepatotoxicity) — rare, mainly with prolonged high-dose use; symptoms include yellowing of the skin or eyes, dark urine, and severe fatigue
- Bone marrow suppression — very rare, mainly with prolonged use; may cause unusual tiredness, easy bruising, or frequent infections
- Severe allergic reaction — very rare; seek emergency help if you develop swelling of the face, lips, or throat, or difficulty breathing
- Stevens-Johnson syndrome — extremely rare skin reaction; seek immediate medical attention for severe skin rash or blistering
- Hair loss (alopecia) — rare and usually reversible
When to see a doctor
See a doctor if you experience severe stomach pain, persistent vomiting, yellowing of the skin or eyes, unusual tiredness, easy bruising, or any signs of a serious allergic reaction after taking albendazole. Also consult a doctor if your symptoms of worm infection (such as stomach pain, itching around the anus, or visible worms in stool) persist more than 2 weeks after completing treatment, as you may need a repeat dose or further investigation.
Warnings & Precautions
Do not take Albendazole if you have:
- Do NOT take albendazole during the first trimester of pregnancy — it may cause harm to the developing baby
- Do not take if you have a known allergy to albendazole, mebendazole, or any benzimidazole medication
- Use with caution if you have liver disease — albendazole is processed by the liver and may worsen existing liver conditions
- Do not use in children under 1 year of age without medical supervision
Drug interactions
- •Dexamethasone and praziquantel — may increase albendazole levels in the blood, potentially increasing the risk of side effects
- •Cimetidine — may increase the concentration of the active form of albendazole in the blood
- •Carbamazepine, phenytoin, and phenobarbital — may reduce the effectiveness of albendazole by increasing its breakdown in the liver
- •Theophylline — albendazole may affect theophylline levels; monitoring may be needed if used together
- •Grapefruit juice — may increase absorption of albendazole
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
Albendazole is NOT recommended during the first trimester of pregnancy due to the risk of birth defects observed in animal studies. Women of childbearing age should ideally take a pregnancy test before receiving albendazole, and should avoid becoming pregnant within one month of treatment. In the second and third trimesters, albendazole may be used if the benefits clearly outweigh the risks, particularly in mass deworming campaigns as recommended by the WHO. Albendazole passes into breast milk in small amounts, but the WHO considers a single dose of 400mg safe for breastfeeding mothers during mass deworming programs. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Used for these conditions
Related Resources for Albendazole
Guides, articles, and tools related to Albendazole and other antiparasitics medicines in Nigeria.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sources
- •NAFDAC Greenbook — the official database of all products registered with Nigeria's National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control. Brand-level NAFDAC numbers for Albendazole on this page were cross-referenced against the Greenbook.
- •WHO Model List of Essential Medicines — Albendazole is included in the WHO's list of essential medicines, meaning it is considered essential for basic healthcare needs.
- •British National Formulary (BNF) dosing and interaction guidance for Albendazole.
- •Nigerian Standard Treatment Guidelines (Federal Ministry of Health).
Daily puzzle: Meddle — pair five brands with their medicines. New game at midnight.