Re: How do physicians (for human or veterinary) treat tapeworms?

Present day  treatment  of   choice  for  tapeworms in humans  and   
animals  is  the  administration of praziquantel (PZQ). This  drug  causes 
increased cell permeability in the flatworm, resulting in a loss of 
intracellular calcium with massive contractions, and paralysis of 
musculature with breakdown of the integrity of the organism. It also 
causes vacuolization and disintegration of the parasite tegument,  
resulting in death. 

Before the advent  of  PZQ,  treatment  was  based on  drugs  that  
paralyzed the  worm (but  did  not  kill it).  So it  was  necessary to 
give  a laxative concommitantly to ensure  that  the  entire  worm  was  
expelled, particularly  the  scolex since  it has  germ  cells that  will  
give   rise  to  new  proglottids.  Since  PZQ  causes  metabolic  havoc  
in the  parasite and  kills  it,  it  is no longer  necessary  to  use  a 
laxative.

Total  amount  of  PZQ required  to  eliminate  tapeworms  in the  gut   
depends  on the  animal  species that  one is  dealing   with. There  are  
numerous  presentations  and  brands  names  for  PZQ for  human or  
veterinary  use. 

Information  on pharmacology of PZQ: http://www.shinpoong.co.kr/tdc/Schistosomiasis/Praziquantel.htm

Information on  treatment of tapeworms: http://vet.purdue.edu/depts/bms/courses/chmrx/anticest.htm (Animals)
 http://pharmacotherapy.medscape.com/adis/DTP/1998/v11.n01/dtp1101.03/dtp110
1.03.html (Humans. Note: this  website it is free but one needs  to 
register in order to acces info)
. http://www.peteducation.com/parasites/tapeworms.htm (Cats  &  Dogs)
 http://cal.vet.upenn.edu/parasit/horse/horse_T3.html (Horses)