Diethylcarbamazine and New Compounds for the Treatment of Filariasis

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the diethylcarbamatine and new compounds for the treatment of filariasis. Diethylcarbamazine is 1-diethylcarbamyl-4-methylpiperazine; it is also known as Hetrazan, Banocide, Notezine, Caricide, Carbilazine, Supatonin, and R.P. 3799. It was first put out as the chloride, but is now issued as the dihydrogen citrate, which contains only half its weight as base. In reports, it should be indicated whether the doses refer to a specific salt or to the base; unless otherwise stated, it can usually be assumed that the dose refers to the citrate. Diethylcarbamazine is a white powder, freely soluble in water, and has a slightly unpleasant sweetish taste. It is stable under all ordinary laboratory conditions. Furthermore, it is fully stable to autoclaving, even if mixed with diet (simulating cooking procedure). When diethylcarbamazine is given by mouth to either animals or man, it is rapidly absorbed from the alimentary canal. One dose of 10 mg base/kg produces a peak blood level of 4–5 μg/ml in 3 hours (when toxic symptoms are most prominent); the level gradually falls to zero within about 48 hours. Most of the excretion in the urine occurs in the first 24 hours during which time 10–26% of the dose may be recovered as diethylcarbamazine.