When your child keeps scratching their bottom at night, or you notice tiny white threads in their stool, it’s not just gross-it’s a sign something’s living inside them. Vermox is one of the most common medicines doctors reach for when that happens. It doesn’t cure every kind of worm, but for the most frequent offenders-pinworms, roundworms, and hookworms-it works fast, cheap, and reliably.
What Vermox Actually Is
Vermox is the brand name for mebendazole, a drug that’s been used since the 1970s to kill intestinal worms. It’s not an antibiotic. It doesn’t fight bacteria. It targets parasites that live in your gut, feeding off your food and laying eggs around your anus. These worms don’t come from bad hygiene alone-they come from contact with contaminated surfaces, soil, or even other people.
The active ingredient, mebendazole, stops worms from absorbing glucose. Think of it like cutting off their fuel supply. Without sugar, the worms starve, die, and pass out of your body in your stool. It doesn’t kill eggs, which is why you often need a second dose two weeks later.
Vermox comes in chewable tablets or liquid form. Each tablet contains 100mg of mebendazole. A single dose is usually enough for pinworms. For other worms like whipworm or hookworm, you might need to take it twice a day for three days.
How Vermox Works Against Different Worms
Not all worms respond the same way. Vermox is most effective against:
- Pinworms (Enterobius vermicularis) - The most common worm infection in kids in the UK. It causes intense itching at night, especially around the anus. Vermox clears it in one dose for most people.
- Roundworms (Ascaris lumbricoides) - These can grow up to 30cm long. They’re rare in the UK but common in tropical areas. Vermox kills them, but a second dose is often needed.
- Hookworms (Necator americanus, Ancylostoma duodenale) - These latch onto your intestines and suck blood. Vermox works, but in severe cases, iron supplements are also needed.
- Whipworms (Trichuris trichiura) - Harder to kill than pinworms. A three-day course of Vermox is usually required.
It doesn’t work well against tapeworms or liver flukes. If you’ve traveled to Southeast Asia or Africa and suspect a different parasite, don’t assume Vermox will fix it. You need the right test first.
Who Should Take Vermox
Vermox is approved for adults and children over one year old. It’s often prescribed for:
- Children with persistent anal itching and trouble sleeping
- Household members of someone diagnosed with pinworms
- People in close-contact settings like nurseries or boarding schools
- Those with visible worms in stool or on underwear
It’s not a general dewormer for healthy people without symptoms. You don’t need it just because you ate undercooked meat or walked barefoot once. The UK has very low rates of serious worm infections. Most cases are pinworms in kids under 10.
Doctors don’t recommend it for pregnant women in the first trimester unless the infection is severe. If you’re breastfeeding, it’s considered safe-only tiny amounts pass into milk.
How to Take Vermox Correctly
Getting the dose right matters. Too little won’t kill the worms. Too much won’t help more-it just raises your risk of side effects.
For pinworms: One 100mg tablet, taken once. Repeat after two weeks.
For roundworm, hookworm, or whipworm: One 100mg tablet, twice a day for three days.
Swallow the tablet whole, or chew it if it’s the chewable version. You can take it with or without food. No need to fast or follow a special diet. Just take it as directed.
Important: Everyone in the household should be treated at the same time-even if they don’t have symptoms. Pinworm eggs spread easily through bedding, towels, and toys. If only one person takes it, they’ll just get reinfected.
Side Effects and What to Watch For
Vermox is well tolerated. Most people feel nothing. But some report:
- Mild stomach upset or nausea
- Diarrhoea
- Headache
- Occasional dizziness
These usually fade within a day or two. Rarely, people get allergic reactions-rash, swelling, trouble breathing. If that happens, stop taking it and get help.
Very rarely, Vermox can cause a drop in white blood cells. This is extremely uncommon and mostly seen with long-term, high-dose use. A single course won’t do it. But if you’re taking it repeatedly over months, your doctor should check your blood.
Don’t take Vermox if you’re allergic to mebendazole or any of its ingredients. If you have liver disease, talk to your doctor first. It’s not dangerous, but your body might process it slower.
Why You Might Need a Second Dose
Here’s the catch: Vermox kills adult worms, but not their eggs. Those eggs can survive for weeks on bedding, toilet seats, or under fingernails. If you scratch your bottom and then touch your food, you can reinfect yourself-or your whole family.
That’s why the second dose, two weeks later, is critical. It kills any worms that hatched from eggs after the first dose. Skipping it is the #1 reason treatment fails.
Also, wash all bedding, towels, and underwear in hot water. Vacuum carpets and clean surfaces with disinfectant. Trim fingernails short. Don’t let kids suck their thumbs. These steps are as important as the medicine.
Vermox vs. Other Worm Treatments
There are alternatives. Albendazole (Albenza) is another option. It’s stronger, works faster, and kills more types of worms. But it’s not available over the counter in the UK. You need a prescription.
Pyrantel pamoate (Combantrin) is sold in pharmacies without a prescription. It works well for pinworms, but it’s less effective against other worms. It’s also not safe for children under two.
Vermox beats both in one thing: versatility. It’s the only single-dose treatment that works for multiple worm types and is safe for kids over one year. That’s why it’s the go-to in UK clinics.
What to Do If Vermox Doesn’t Work
If you’ve taken the full course-two doses for pinworms, three days for others-and you’re still itching or seeing worms, it’s not always because the medicine failed.
Reinfection is the most common reason. Did everyone in the house get treated? Did you wash the sheets? Did the child put their hands in their mouth after using the toilet?
Less often, it’s a different parasite. Some worms, like giardia or tapeworms, need different drugs. A stool sample test can confirm what’s there.
If symptoms persist after two weeks, see your GP. Don’t keep taking extra doses. That won’t help-and could cause side effects.
Where to Get Vermox in the UK
You can buy Vermox without a prescription from any UK pharmacy. It’s kept behind the counter, so ask the pharmacist. A pack of two 100mg tablets usually costs between £5 and £8. Generic mebendazole is cheaper-around £3.
It’s not available online from unregulated sites. Stick to licensed pharmacies. Fake versions exist, and they might not contain any active ingredient.
If you’re unsure whether you need it, talk to your pharmacist. They can ask the right questions and help you decide if Vermox is the right choice-or if you need to see a doctor.
Preventing Worm Infections for Good
Once the worms are gone, you don’t want them back. Here’s what actually works:
- Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water after using the toilet and before eating
- Keep fingernails short and clean
- Don’t let children suck thumbs or bite nails
- Change underwear daily and wash in hot water
- Wash bedding weekly during and after treatment
- Disinfect toilet seats and bathroom surfaces regularly
- Supervise young kids in public restrooms
There’s no magic spray or supplement that prevents worms. Just good hygiene. It’s boring, but it works.
Can Vermox be used for children under one year old?
No. Vermox is not approved for babies under one year. Their bodies process the drug differently, and there isn’t enough safety data. If you suspect worms in an infant, see a doctor. Other treatments may be needed.
Is Vermox safe during pregnancy?
It’s not recommended in the first trimester unless absolutely necessary. In the second and third trimesters, it’s considered low risk, but only use it if your doctor confirms a worm infection and says the benefits outweigh the risks. Never self-treat during pregnancy.
Can I drink alcohol while taking Vermox?
There’s no known interaction between Vermox and alcohol. But if you’re feeling nauseous or dizzy after taking it, alcohol could make those side effects worse. It’s best to avoid it until the treatment is done.
How long does it take for Vermox to work?
Worms start dying within hours, but you won’t necessarily see them right away. They may pass out in your stool over the next few days. Itching from pinworms usually improves within 2-3 days. If symptoms continue after a week, check for reinfection or another cause.
Does Vermox kill eggs too?
No. Vermox only kills adult worms. The eggs can survive for up to three weeks in the environment. That’s why a second dose two weeks after the first is essential-it kills any worms that hatch from eggs after the first treatment.
malik recoba
i took vermix for my kid last year and it worked like a charm. no more scratching at night. just one pill and we were good. but wow, the second dose is so important-my neighbor skipped it and their kid got it back in two weeks. dumb move.
Sarbjit Singh
bro this is gold 🙌 i live in delhi and we see this all the time-kids with worms, parents panicking. vermoz is cheap, easy, and works. but pls wash sheets! my cousin’s kid kept getting it back ‘cause they didn’t change the pyjamas. 😅
Joshua Casella
Why are we still using 1970s drugs like this? Albendazole is superior, faster, and kills more types. The fact that you need two doses is a design flaw. If you’re treating pinworms, you should get a single-dose cure-this is outdated medicine. Pharmacies pushing this like it’s magic? Lazy.
Richard Couron
EVERYONE knows the government puts mebendazole in the water to control population growth. That’s why it’s sold over the counter-so you don’t notice. And why is it only for kids? They’re the ones being targeted. You think it’s about worms? Nah. It’s about mind control. And don’t get me started on the ‘wash your hands’ nonsense-hand sanitizer is all you need. The CDC is lying.
Alex Boozan
Let’s clarify the pharmacokinetics: mebendazole is a benzimidazole derivative that inhibits microtubule synthesis in helminths via binding to β-tubulin, thereby disrupting glucose uptake. The clinical efficacy is dose-dependent, and reinfection rates are directly correlated with environmental egg load. Therefore, hygiene protocols are not ancillary-they are pharmacologically synergistic. You’re not treating a worm-you’re interrupting a transmission cascade.
Evan Brady
My grandma used to say, ‘If your kid’s butt itches like a monkey on a hot tin roof, it ain’t just gas.’ She’d grab the Vermox like it was aspirin-no doctor needed. And she was right. One pill, two weeks later, boom-no more midnight screaming. But man, the real MVP? Hot water washes. I’ve seen families spend $200 on fancy cleaners-just use boiling water and a scrub brush. Works better than any ‘disinfectant’ with a fancy label.
Ram tech
why even talk about this? everyone knows worms are from eating street food. if you’re rich enough to afford vermoz, you’re rich enough to avoid dirt. just don’t be poor. problem solved. also, kids these days are too soft. we used to just scrub with soap and move on.
Jenny Lee
My daughter had pinworms. One pill. Two weeks later, another. Done. No drama. Washed her sheets. Cut her nails. Life went on. Seriously, it’s not a crisis. Just do the two steps and stop stressing.
Jeff Hakojarvi
Hey, if you’re reading this and you’re worried you did it wrong-don’t panic. You’re not alone. I gave my son the first dose and forgot the second. He was itchy again. I felt like a bad dad. But I got the second dose, washed everything, and now he’s fine. It’s not about being perfect-it’s about trying. And if you’re still unsure, ask your pharmacist. They’re way more helpful than you think.
kim pu
Oh please. Vermox? That’s just Big Pharma’s way of monetizing childhood anxiety. You know what kills worms? Fasting. Or maybe just letting your immune system do its job. Why do you need a chemical crutch? Also, ‘wash bedding’? That’s bourgeois hygiene. My dog has worms and he’s fine. Maybe humans just need to get back to nature. Or is this just another way to sell more soap?
Shravan Jain
One must interrogate the epistemological foundations of anthelmintic intervention. The imposition of pharmacological regimes upon the corporeal self, under the auspices of public health, constitutes a subtle form of biopolitical control. The notion of ‘reinfection’ is a constructed narrative to perpetuate dependency on pharmaceuticals. The worm, in its natural state, is not an enemy-it is a symbiont, a reminder of our biological continuity with the earth. To eradicate it is to sever a thread of ecological truth.
Brandon Lowi
Let me be crystal-clear: This isn’t about worms-it’s about cultural decay. We used to have discipline. We didn’t need pills to fix our kids’ hygiene. Now? We hand out medicine like candy and call it ‘care.’ And don’t get me started on the ‘everyone in the house’ nonsense. That’s socialist medicine. You treat the sick, not the whole damn family. This is why America’s falling apart.
mithun mohanta
Look. I’m not here to judge. But Vermox? It’s so… 2008. I mean, have you seen the new probiotic-based gut flora modulators? Or the quantum bio-resonance deworming patches? They’re $299 but they’re *aesthetic*. Vermox is like using a flip phone in 2024. If you’re not using a nano-emulsified herbal extract infused with Himalayan crystal essence, you’re just… basic.
benedict nwokedi
Why is Vermox even legal? It’s not FDA-approved for over-the-counter use in the U.S.-but somehow it’s everywhere in the UK? This is a loophole. A corporate backdoor. They’re testing mass deworming protocols here to see if they can roll it out stateside. You’re being used as a lab rat. And they’re using your kids to do it. Wake up.