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Re: Pinworms

>In a message dated 5/2/1999 6:51:17 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
> writes:
>
>> How do you treat confirmed or suspected pinworms?
>

At 11:06 PM 5/2/99 -0400,  wrote:

>We used Vermox for a long time, but use an OTC med now--Reese's Pinworm
>Medicine.  No, it's not like the candy.  It's a liquid preparation of
>pyrantel pamoate.


I asked our building's pharmacist and he'd never heard of "Reese's Pinworm
Medicine".  So we searched his medicine database and found listed under
"Pyrantel" not only "Reese's" but also "Pin-X" and "Pin-Rid".  All three
are identical with the active ingredient being Pyrantal 50 mg/ml.  It's
dosed at 11mg/kg (or 5mg/lb) as a single dose which can be repeated like
Vermox after 10-14 days.  His cost for a 30 ml bottle is under $10.00.  I
don't remember the maximum dose for adults, but since a typical
pre-schooler is 30-50 pounds, they can be treated with about a dose which
costs the pharmacist under $1.00 - so it's much more economical than
Vermox.  The only problem I can forsee is pharmacies not stocking it - and
once parents see worms, they want the medicine NOW!

Michael Sachs, M.D.
General Pediatrician