Levamisole

Veterinary anthelminthic for the treatment of nematode infestations in cattle, sheep and pigs. Levamisole presents as both an oral preparation and an injection. Some oral preparations contain other active ingredients.

Adverse effects after a single ingestion are uncommon but may include may include nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, dizziness and headache. Chronic ingestion may cause hypersensitivity reactions such as fever, a flu like syndrome, arthralgia, myalgia, skin rashes and cutaneous vasculitis. Other effects from chronic exposure may include headache, insomnia, convulsions, haematological abnormalities; agranulocytosis, leucopenia and thrombocytopenia; taste disturbance and GI disturbances.

Hepatotoxicity is a possible complication with chronic use (Papageorgiou P et al, 1982, Bulugahapitiya DTD, 1997). Encephalopathy (El Kallab et al, 2003) and leucoencephalopathy have also been reported (Lucia P et al, 1996)