Human Medicine
Parasitic infections — including pinworm, roundworm, tapeworm, and protozoal infections such as giardiasis — affect millions of people worldwide each year. Treatment typically involves a prescription antiparasitic medication selected by your healthcare provider based on the specific organism involved.
Medically reviewed by Dr. Francesca Sohyun Dougher, PharmDPharmacist · Last reviewed August 11, 2026
CareFirst Specialty Pharmacy is a PCAB-accredited compounding pharmacy that prepares patient-specific antiparasitic medications when a prescriber determines a customized preparation is appropriate. Compounding allows us to prepare these medications in customized strengths and dosage forms — capsules, oral liquids, lozenges, and topical preparations — and to formulate them without lactose, corn, dyes, preservatives, or other excipients a patient may need to avoid.
All compounded medications require a valid prescription from a licensed prescriber. All active pharmaceutical ingredients we use are sourced from FDA-registered facilities, and every preparation is compounded on site at our Mount Laurel, NJ facility.
Prescribers turn to compounding pharmacies for antiparasitic therapy in several common situations:
Weight-based and pediatric dosing
Many antiparasitic regimens are dosed by body weight. Compounding allows a prescriber to order the exact strength needed, and oral liquid formulations can make dosing easier for children and for adults who have difficulty swallowing capsules.
Allergen- and excipient-free formulations
We can compound antiparasitic medications free of lactose, corn, gluten, dyes, and preservatives for patients with sensitivities to ingredients found in commercial products.
Medications not commercially available
Some antiparasitic agents, such as quinacrine, are no longer commercially manufactured in the United States but remain available through compounding pharmacies pursuant to a valid prescription.
Custom strengths and combinations
Prescribers may order strengths that fall outside commercially manufactured options to fit a specific treatment plan.
Alternative dosage forms — capsules, oral suspensions, lozenges, and topical preparations — are prepared per prescriber order at our Mount Laurel, NJ facility under PCAB-accredited quality standards.
Parasitic infections treated with prescription medications fall into a few broad groups. Your healthcare provider determines the appropriate diagnosis and therapy — often with stool testing or other laboratory confirmation.
Pinworm (Enterobius vermicularis)
The most common intestinal worm infection in the United States, particularly among school-age children and their households.
Roundworm, whipworm, and hookworm
Soil-transmitted helminths that infect the intestinal tract.
Tapeworm and fluke infections
Cestode and trematode infections, including those acquired through undercooked food or travel.
Protozoal infections
Single-celled organisms such as Giardia lamblia (giardiasis), Entamoeba histolytica (amebiasis), and Trichomonas vaginalis (trichomoniasis).
Medications in the antiparasitic category work through different mechanisms depending on the class — anthelmintics act against parasitic worms, while antiprotozoals act against single-celled parasites. This is why the specific medication your prescriber selects depends on the organism being treated.
Compounded antiparasitic medications prescribers may order include:
Your prescriber determines which medication, strength, and dosage form is appropriate based on the organism involved and your health history.
Household or repeat treatment is common with some parasitic infections (pinworm in particular), so prescribers sometimes write for multiple family members or follow-up courses — we can coordinate those prescriptions in a single order. Depending on the prescription, we can prepare:
Capsules
Customized strengths; lactose-, corn-, dye-, and preservative-free options
Oral liquids / suspensions
Useful for weight-based dosing and patients who can't swallow capsules
Lozenges
Dissolve-in-mouth preparations per prescriber order
Topical lotions / creams
Applied locally per prescriber instructions
PCAB Accredited — compounding processes accredited by the Pharmacy Compounding Accreditation Board, a service of ACHC. Our commitment to quality.
FDA-registered ingredient sourcing — all active pharmaceutical ingredients come from FDA-registered facilities.
Compounded on site — every preparation is made at our Mount Laurel, NJ facility.
Allergen-aware formulation — lactose-free, corn-free, gluten-free, dye-free, and preservative-free options per prescriber order.
Nationwide shipping where licensed — see shipping info.
Easy ordering & refills — how to order · refill your prescription · get a quote.
Browse current compounded antiparasitic offerings.
Albendazole is an antiparasitic medication that is used to treat a number of parasitic infections. At CareFirst Specialty Pharmacy, we can compound Albendazole that is lactose and corn free. You may buy Albendazole from CareFirst Specialty Pharmacy with a valid prescription from your prescriber.
Iodoquinol is an amebicide. This medication can be used alone or in combination to treat intestinal parasitic infections. You may buy Iodoquinol from CareFirst Specialty Pharmacy with a valid prescription from your prescirber.
Ivermectin belongs to a class of drugs known as anthelmintics. This medication is used to treat certain parasitic roundworm infections. You may buy Ivermectin from CareFirst Specialty Pharmacy with a valid prescription from your prescriber.
Mebendazole is a broad-spectrum anthelmintic medication that is used to treat pinworm, whipworm and roundworm. At CareFirst Specialty Pharmacy, we can compound Mebendazole that is lactose and corn free. You may buy Mebendazole from CareFirst Specialty Pharmacy with a valid prescription from your prescriber.
Nitazoxanide is an anti-parasitic medication that is used to treat parasite infection. At CareFirst Specialty Pharmacy, we can compound Nitazoxanide that is lactose and corn free. You may buy Nitazoxanide from CareFirst Specialty Pharmacy with a valid prescription from your prescriber.
Praziquantel is an antiparasitic medication that is used to treat a number of parasitic infections. At CareFirst Specialty Pharmacy, we can compound Praziquantel that is lactose and corn free. You may buy Praziquantel from CareFirst Specialty Pharmacy with a valid prescription from your prescriber.
Pyrantel Pamoate is an anti-parasitic agent used to treat pinworm, roundworm, and other infections. You may buy Pyrantel Pamoate from CareFirst Specialty Pharmacy with a valid prescription from your prescriber.
Quinacrine is an acridine derivative used to treat lupus and resistant giardiasis. It acts by inhibiting the inflammatory enzyme phospholipase A2, and by binding to giardia DNA, blocking it from being read. While not commercially available in the U.S., it can be made by compounding pharmacies. You may buy Quinacrine from CareFirst Specialty Pharmacy with a valid prescription from your prescriber.
Tinidazole is an anti-parasitic agent used to treat pinworm, roundworm, and other infections. You may buy Tinidazole from CareFirst Specialty Pharmacy with a valid prescription from your prescriber.
Yes. All compounded medications — including ivermectin, albendazole, mebendazole, and praziquantel — require a valid prescription from a licensed prescriber. Diagnosis of a parasitic infection should be made by a healthcare provider, often with laboratory confirmation.
No. Compounded preparations are not FDA-approved, meaning the FDA has not evaluated them for safety, effectiveness, or quality prior to marketing. Compounded medications are prepared for individual patients pursuant to a prescription. All of our active ingredients are sourced from FDA-registered facilities, and we compound under PCAB-accredited quality standards.
Common reasons include a strength or weight-based dose not commercially available, a liquid form for a child or a patient who can't swallow capsules, an allergen- or excipient-free formulation, or a medication (like quinacrine) that is no longer commercially manufactured in the U.S.
Each patient needs their own prescription, but prescribers commonly write for multiple household members when treating infections like pinworm. We can fill and ship those prescriptions together.
Yes. Prescriptions can be sent electronically, by fax at 800.786.1405, or via our prescriber authorization form. See our prescriber page for details.
We ship to states where we're licensed. Contact us at 844.822.7379 or see our shipping info page to confirm availability in your state.
Our pharmacists write regularly about antiparasitic pharmacology, formulation science, and emerging research. Explore these resources, and always discuss questions about your treatment plan with your prescriber.
