Health Centres - Pripsen powder
How does it work?
Pripsen powder contains two active ingredients, piperazine and senna.
Piperazine is a medication that is used to treat certain types of parasitic worm infections. It works by stopping the worm from being able to contol the contraction of it's muscles. This leads to the eventual paralysis of the worm. As the worm is unable to move it is easily dislodged from the gut of the infected person and is expelled alive in the faeces. Piperazine is used in the treatment of both threadworm and roundworm infections.
Pripsen powder also contains senna which is a laxative medicine. This is used to help clear the paralysed worms more quickly from the gut.
The powder should be stirred into a small glass of milk or water and the correct dose of this (described in the leaflet provided with the medicine) taken immediately. Adults should take their dose at bedtime and children in the morning.
A second dose of the powder should be taken 14 days after the first dose to eliminate any remaining worms.
What is it used for?
-
Infection with threadworms
- Infection with roundworms (ascariasis).
Warning!
- Follow the instructions provided with this medicine.
- Children aged three months to one year should only be treated with this medicine on the advice of a doctor.
- Children under 10 years of age should not be given more than one course of treatment in any 28 day period without first seeking advice from a doctor.
Not to be used in
- Children under three months of age.
- Blockage of the gut (intestinal obstruction)
-
Epilepsy
- Liver disease
- Kidney disease.
This medicine should not be used if you are allergic to one or any of its ingredients. Please inform your doctor or pharmacist if you have previously experienced such an allergy.
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Certain medicines should not be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding. However, other medicines may be safely used in pregnancy or breastfeeding providing the benefits to the mother outweigh the risks to the unborn baby. Always inform your doctor if you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, before using any medicine.
- This medicine passes into breast milk. Seek medical advice from your doctor before using this medicine during breastfeeding. It is recommended that women avoid breastfeeding for eight hours after a dose of this medicine and express and discard milk during this time.
Label warnings
- Dissolve or mix this medication with water or milk before taking.
Side effects
Medicines and their possible side effects can affect individual people in different ways. The following are some of the side effects that are known to be associated with this medicine. Because a side effect is stated here, it does not mean that all people using this medicine will experience that or any side effect.
- Itchy rash (urticaria)
- Abdominal pain
- Diarrhoea
- Nausea and vomiting
- Narrowing of the airways (bronchospasm)
- Dizziness
- Inability to coordinate muscles
- Drowsiness
- Confusion
- Blurred vision
The side effects listed above may not include all of the side effects reported by the drug's manufacturer.
