Pinworms - Medications

Medications

Medicine is often used for pinworm infections that are causing symptoms such as itching. Both nonprescription and prescription medicines are available (in liquid, chewable tablet, and tablet forms). More than 90% of pinworm infections are cured through treatment.¹

Because medicines do not kill pinworm eggs, two doses are given, usually 2 weeks apart. The second dose is necessary to kill any worms that may have hatched from eggs after the initial treatment. In some cases of reinfection, 4 to 6 treatments (spaced 2 weeks apart) are necessary.

Medication Choices

Nonprescription medicine

Pyrantel pamoate (Antiminth, Pin-X, Reese's Pinworm Medicine)

Prescription medicines

Mebendazole (Vermox)

Albendazole (Albenza)

Do not use other medicines to treat pinworms without first speaking to your health professional. Piperazine and pyrvinium are no longer used to treat pinworm infections, but they may still be available in some pharmacies.

What To Think About

Mebendazole and pyrantel pamoate are the medicines most often used to treat pinworm infection. Both are very effective and have few side effects. If one of these medicines does not clear up the pinworm infection, other medicines may be prescribed.

Pinworm medicine is not recommended for use by pregnant women, breast-feeding women, or by children younger than 2 without talking to a health professional about the risks and benefits of medicine. These groups are advised to use measures to prevent reinfection rather than using medicine. For more information, see the Home Treatment section.