Piperazine Citrate WSP

Indications

• Ascariasis
• Partial intestinal obstruction due to Ascaris lumbricoides

Dosage

Children: Refer to BNF for Children for specific dosing information.

Adults: Refer to BNF for specific dosing information.

Mechanism of action

Piperazine functions as a GABA receptor agonist, selectively binding to muscle membrane GABA receptors in nematodes. This binding induces hyperpolarization of nerve endings, leading to flaccid paralysis of the worms. By blocking the response of worm muscle to acetylcholine, piperazine alters cell membrane permeability to ions, resulting in hyperpolarization and suppression of spontaneous spike potentials, thereby facilitating the expulsion of the worm through normal intestinal peristalsis.

Pharmacodynamics

Piperazine is effective as an anthelminthic, particularly for treating infections from Ascaris lumbricoides. It induces reversible muscle paralysis in nematode parasites by hyperpolarizing their cell membranes. The primary clinical use is in addressing complications such as partial intestinal obstruction caused by these worms, a condition more frequently encountered in children.

Pharmacokinetics

The pharmacokinetics of piperazine, including absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion, have not been well-characterized in the available literature. However, it is generally understood that piperazine is absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract and is metabolized in the liver. Further detailed studies may be required to elucidate its complete pharmacokinetic profile.

Adverse effects

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Abdominal pain
• Diarrhea
• Headache
• Dizziness

Precautions

• Use with caution in patients with renal impairment
• Consider potential interactions with other central nervous system depressants

Pregnancy

Limited data are available on the safety of piperazine during pregnancy. Use only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus.

Breast-feeding

Piperazine is excreted in breast milk; use with caution and consider the need for monitoring the infant.

Storage

Store in a cool, dry place away from light. Keep out of reach of children.

Formulations

• Piperazine citrate
• Piperazine hydrate

Mechanism of action

Piperazine is a GABA receptor agonist. Piperzine binds directly and selectively to muscle membrane GABA receptors, presumably causing hyperpolarization of nerve endings, resulting in flaccid paralysis of the worm. While the worm is paralyzed, it is dislodged from the intestinal lumen and expelled live from the body by normal intestinal peristalsis. Piperazine blocks the response of the /target species/ worm muscle (best studied in Ascaris), causing flaccid paralysis of the worm. While the worm is paralyzed, it is dislodged from the intestinal lumen and expelled live from the body by normal intestinal peristalsis. The predominant effect of piperazine on /the target species/ Ascaris is to cause a flaccid paralysis that results in expulsion of the worm by peristalsis. ... Piperazine blocks the response of Ascaris muscle to acetylcholine, apparently by altering the permeability of the cell membrane to ions that are responsible for the maintenance of the resting potential. The drug causes hyperpolarization and suppression of spontaneous spike potentials with accompanying paralysis. Piperazine citrate causes reversible muscle paralysis in intestinal nematodes, presumably by causing hyperpolarization of nerve endings /in this target species/. /Piperazine citrate/ Piperazine and its salts, as a gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-like substance, induce a reversible flaccid paralysis in the /target/ nematode parasites. This is provoked by a hyperpolarization of the cell membrane followed by suppression of spontaneous spike potentials. THe paralyzed nematodes are expelled from the gut lumen by normal peristaltic actions. In mammals, motorcortical GABAa inhibition is important for initiation of smooth flexion and/or extension movements of the extremities affecting motor and postural control. When injected into the hand motor cortical area of three infant macaque monkeys, the GABA agonist muscimol disrupted forelimb movement showing a posture of dropped wrist and fingers as if the radial nerve were paralysed. Interestingly, the three investigated animals exhibited large inter-individual differences in sensitivity to the action of the same dose of muscimol, being low in one, moderate in the second and substantial in the third. Injection into the medial segment of globus pallidus elicited choreiform movements and injections into substantia nigra pars reticulata provoked severe axial posture anomalies with rotational behaviour as well as contralateral hypotonia. Although the symptoms induced by piperazine in sensitive species exhibits some of these features, it is possible that its effects in mammals also involve other modes of action as well, in as much as a nicotinic action on rat sympathetic ganglia in vitro was reported in one series of experiments.

Pharmacodynamics

Piperazine is an anthelminthic especially useful in the treatment of partial intestinal obstruction caused by Ascaris worms, which is a condition primarily seen in children. Piperazine hydrate and piperazine citrate are the main anthelminthic piperazines.