How COMBANTRIN® Works – Pyrantel Embonate

Pyrantel Embonate, a medication belonging to the anthelmintics family, is the active ingredient in COMBANTRIN^® - Australia's number one selling worm treatment* and the most recommended worming brand by mums.^† The active ingredient works as a 'neuro-muscular blocking agent', which essentially paralyses the worms inside the body. This allows them to be passed out of the body with a bowel movement.

Pyrantel Embonate is suitable for treating infections caused by threadworm - the most common worm in Australia and New Zealand – as well as the rare worms roundworm and hookworm. If you suspect a roundworm or hookworm infection you should seek medical advice.

Despite having a very high success rate for killing live worms within the body, Pyrantel Embonate is ineffective against the immature worms or larvae and eggs around the anus which haven't yet hatched at the time of treatment. In fact all human worming products will treat only adult worms present in the intestine at the time of taking the medication. They will not treat the eggs or immature worms and will not protect you or your children from contracting threadworms if you are exposed to them again. So it's advisable to check roughly 2-4 weeks after the initial dose to ensure a second dose is not required. To learn more about the lifecycle of threadworms see our worm treatment page.

Ask your doctor about using Pyrantel Embonate if…

• You are pregnant.
• You are considering treating children under 1 year of age. Pyrantel Embonate (and, by proxy, COMBANTRIN^®) isn't recommended for those under 1 year of age.