Levamisole and its uses

Levamisole sold under the trade name Ergamisol among others, is a drug used to treat parasitic infections, especially ascariasis and hookworm infections.It is taken by mouth.Side effects may include abdominal pain, vomiting, headache, and dizziness.Not recommended for breastfeeding or late pregnancy.Serious side effects may include an increased risk of infection.It belongs to the class of anthelmintic drugs.Levamisole was discovered in 1966 and it is on the World Health Organization’s list of essential medicines.It is not available in the United States.Levamisole is also used as a repellent for cattle.

Medical uses

Worms:

Levamisole was originally used as an anthelmintic for the treatment of helminth infections in humans and animals.Levamisole, a nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonist, continuously stimulates the parasite’s muscles, causing paralysis.Levamisole has gained attention among aquarists as an effective treatment for Camallanus roundworm infections in freshwater tropical fish.

Others:

Levamisole has been used to treat a variety of skin conditions, including skin infections, leprosy, warts, lichen planus, and aphthous ulcers.An interesting side effect reported by these reviewers in passing is “nervous arousal”.Later papers by Janssen’s group and others showed that levamisole and its enantiomer dexamisole possessed some mood-enhancing or antidepressant properties, although this was never labeled as a medicinal use.