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Moxidectin

Generic: Moxidectin

Verified·Apr 23, 2026
Manufacturer
Medicines Development for Global Health
NDC
71705-050
ICD-10 indication
B73.00

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About Moxidectin

What is this medication?

Moxidectin is an anthelmintic medication that is primarily used in human medicine to treat onchocerciasis, a condition commonly known as river blindness. This disease is caused by a parasitic worm called Onchocerca volvulus, which is transmitted to humans through the bites of infected blackflies. The drug belongs to the milbemycin class of medications and works by interfering with the nervous system and muscle function of the parasites, leading to their paralysis and preventing them from reproducing or causing further damage to the host.

While it is also widely utilized in veterinary medicine for preventing heartworm and controlling various internal and external parasites in livestock and pets, the human formulation is specifically indicated for patients aged twelve years and older. It is typically administered as a single oral dose to reduce the number of microfilariae in the skin and eyes. By effectively suppressing the parasitic population, moxidectin helps manage the severe itching, skin disfigurement, and potential vision loss associated with long-term infection.

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Prescribing information

From the FDA-approved label for Moxidectin. Official source: DailyMed (NLM) · Label effective Oct 13, 2025

Indications and usage
1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE Moxidectin Tablets are indicated for the treatment of onchocerciasis due to Onchocerca volvulus in adult and pediatric patients aged 4 years and older and weighing at least 13 kg [see Clinical Studies ( 14 )] . Limitations of Use: Moxidectin Tablets does not kill adult Onchocerca volvulus (O. volvulus) parasites . Follow-up evaluation is advised. The safety and efficacy of repeat administration of Moxidectin Tablets in patients with O . volvulus has not been studied. Moxidectin is an anthelmintic indicated for the treatment of onchocerciasis due to Onchocerca volvulus in adults and pediatric patients aged 4 years and older and weighing at least 13 kg. ( 1 ) Limitations of Use: Moxidectin Tablets do not kill adult Onchocerca volvulus (O. volvulus) parasites. Follow-up is advised. ( 1 ) The safety and efficacy of repeat administration of Moxidectin Tablets in patients with O . volvulus has not been studied. ( 1 )
Dosage and administration
2 DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION Recommended Dosage in Adult Patients : Take 8 mg (four 2 mg tablets) as a single oral dose, with or without food. ( 2.1 ) Recommended Dosage in Pediatric P atients (4 Years of Age and Older and Weighing at Least 13 kg): See Table below. ( 2.2 ) Body Weight Dose Number of 2 mg Tablets 13 kg to less than 15 kg 4 mg 2 15 kg to less than 30 kg 6 mg 3 Greater than or equal to 30 kg 8 mg 4 2.1 Recommended Dosage in Adult Patients The recommended dosage of Moxidectin Tablets in adult patients is a single dose of 8 mg (four 2 mg tablets) taken orally with or without food [see Clinical Pharmacology ( 12.3 )]. 2. 2 Recommended Dosage in Pediatric Patients (4 Years of Age and Older and Weighing at Least 13 kg) The recommended dosage of Moxidectin Tablets in pediatric patients aged 4 years and older and weighing at least 13 kg is described in Table 1 below. Administer Moxidectin Tablets as a single dose taken orally with or without food [see Clinical Pharmacology ( 12.3 ) ]. Table 1: Recommended Dosage of Moxidectin Tablets in Pediatric Patients 4 Years of Age and Older and Weighing at Least 13 kg Body Weight Dose Number of 2 mg Tablets 13 kg to less than 15 kg 4 mg 2 15 kg to less than 30 kg 6 mg 3 Greater than or equal to 30 kg 8 mg 4
Contraindications
4 CONTRAINDICATIONS None. None. ( 4 )
Warnings and precautions
5 WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS Cutaneous, Ophthalmological and/or Systemic Adverse Reactions of Varying Severity (Mazzotti Reaction ) : This may occur in patients with onchocerciasis following treatment with Moxidectin Tablets. Monitor patients for symptoms, including symptomatic orthostatic hypotension. ( 5.1 ) Symptomatic Orthostatic Hypotension : Episodes of symptomatic orthostatic hypotension including inability to stand without support may occur in patients following treatment with Moxidectin Tablets. ( 5.2 ) Encephalopathy in Loa loa C o- I nfected P atients : Serious or even fatal encephalopathy following treatment with Moxidectin Tablets may occur in patients co-infected with Loa loa . Assess patients for loiasis in Loa loa endemic areas prior to treatment. ( 5.3 ) Edema and Worsening of Onchodermatitis : Patients with hyper-reactive onchodermatitis (sowda) may be more likely than others to experience severe edema and aggravation of onchodermatitis. ( 5.4 ) 5.1 Cutaneous, Ophthalmological and/or Systemic Adverse Reactions Treatment with Moxidectin Tablets may cause cutaneous, ophthalmological and/or systemic reactions of varying severity (Mazzotti reaction). These adverse reactions are due to allergic and inflammatory host responses to the death of microfilariae [see Adverse Reactions ( 6.1 )]. There is a trend toward an increased incidence of these adverse reactions in patients with higher microfilarial burden. The clinical manifestations of Mazzotti reaction include pruritus, headache, pyrexia, rash, urticaria, hypotension (including symptomatic orthostatic hypotension and dizziness) [ see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.2 )] , tachycardia, edema, lymphadenopathy, arthralgia, myalgia, chills, paresthesia and asthenia. Ophthalmological manifestations include conjunctivitis, eye pain, eye pruritus, eyelid swelling, blurred vision, photophobia, changes in visual acuity, hyperemia, ocular discomfort and watery eyes. These adverse reactions generally occur and resolve in the first week post-treatment. Laboratory changes include eosinophilia, eosinopenia, lymphocytopenia, neutropenia, and increases in alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). Proteinuria has also been reported. Treatment of severe Mazzotti reactions has not been evaluated in controlled clinical trials. Symptomatic treatments such as oral hydration, recumbency, intravenous normal saline, and/or parenteral corticosteroids have been used to treat orthostatic hypotension. Antihistamines and/or analgesics have been used for most mild to moderate cases. 5.2 Symptomatic Orthostatic Hypotension An increased number of patients who received Moxidectin Tablets developed symptomatic orthostatic hypotension with inability to stand without support after lying down for 5 minutes (in an orthostatic hypotension provocation test); 47/978 (5%) compared with 8/494 (2%) who received ivermectin. The decreases in blood pressure were transient, managed by resumption of recumbency and most commonly occurred on Days 1 and 2 post-treatment. Advise patients that if they feel dizzy or light-headed after taking Moxidectin Tablets, they should lie down until the symptoms resolve. 5.3 Encephalopathy in Loa loa Co - infected Patients Patients with onchocerciasis who are also infected with Loa loa may develop a serious or even fatal encephalopathy following treatment with Moxidectin Tablets. Moxidectin Tablets have not been studied in patients co-infected with Loa loa . Therefore, it is recommended that individuals who warrant treatment with Moxidectin Tablets and have had exposure to Loa loa -endemic areas undergo diagnostic screening for loiasis prior to treatment. 5.4 Edema and Worsening of Onchodermatitis Patients with hyper-reactive onchodermatitis (sowda) may be more likely than others to experience severe edema and worsening of onchodermatitis following the use of Moxidectin Tablets. Symptomatic treatment has been used to manage patients who have experienced edema and worsening of onchodermatitis.
Drug interactions
7 DRUG INTERACTIONS 7.1 Midazolam (CYP3A4 substrate) In healthy subjects, concomitant administration of a single 8 mg oral dose of Moxidectin Tablets did not have an effect on the pharmacokinetics of midazolam [ see Clinical Pharmacology ( 12.3 ) ]. Moxidectin can be co-administered with CYP3A4 substrates.
Adverse reactions
6 ADVERSE REACTIONS The following clinically significant adverse reactions are described in greater detail in other labeling sections: Cutaneous, Ophthalmological and/or Systemic Adverse Reactions [see Warnings and Precautio ns ( 5.1 )] Symptomatic Orthostatic Hypotension [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.2 )] Encephalopathy in Loa loa Co-infected Patients [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.3 )] Edema and Worsening of Onchodermatitis [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.4 )] The most common adverse reactions (incidence > 10%) in adult and pediatric patients (12 to less than 18 years of age) in Trial 1 were eosinophilia, pruritus, musculoskeletal pain, headache, lymphocytopenia, tachycardia, rash, abdominal pain, hypotension, pyrexia, leukocytosis, influenza-like illness, neutropenia, cough, diarrhea/gastroenteritis/enteritis, lymph node pain, dizziness, hyponatremia and peripheral swelling. ( 6.1 ) The most common adverse reactions (incidence > 5%) in pediatric patients (4 to less than 18 years of age) in Trial 3 were abdominal pain and diarrhea. ( 6.1 ) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Medicines Development for Global Health at 1-800-MDGH-456 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch. 6.1 Clinical Trials Experience Because clinical trials are conducted under varying controlled conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in one clinical trial cannot be directly compared to rates observed in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in clinical practice. Clinical Trials Experience in Adults and Pediatric Patients (12 Years to Less than 18 Years of Age) The safety of Moxidectin Tablets was evaluated in two randomized, double-blind, active-controlled studies in patients with confirmed onchocerciasis (Trial 1 and Trial 2) [see Clinical Studies ( 14 )] . In Trial 1, 978 patients (including 53 pediatric patients aged 12 to less than 18 years) received Moxidectin Tablets as a single oral dose of 8 mg and 494 patients received ivermectin (including 24 pediatric patients aged 12 to less than 18 years) as a single oral dose of approximately 150 mcg/kg. In Trial 2, 127 patients aged 18 years or older received Moxidectin Tablets as a single oral dose ranging from 2 mg (this is not an approved dose) to 8 mg (38 received the recommended 8 mg dose) and 45 patients aged 18 years or older received ivermectin as a single oral dose of approximately 150 mcg/kg. Most Common Adverse Reactions No patients withdrew from either trial due to adverse reactions. Adverse Reactions reported in Trial 1 in > 10% of patients are summarized in Table 2. Most were related to physical, vital signs and laboratory changes associated with Mazzotti reaction [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1 )] . Table 2: Adverse Reactions Occurring in > 10% of Moxidectin-treated Patients with Onchocerciasis in Trial 1 Adverse Reaction Moxidectin N = 978 n (%) Ivermectin N = 494 n (%) Eosinophilia 721 (74) 390 (79) Pruritus 640 (65) 268 (54) Musculoskeletal pain a 623 (64) 257 (52) Headache 566 (58) 267 (54) Lymphocytopenia* 470 (48) 215 (44) Tachycardia b 382 (39) 148(30) Orthostatic tachycardia c 333 (34) 130 (26) Non-orthostatic tachycardia d 179 (18) 57 (12) Rash e 358 (37) 103 (21) Abdominal pain f 305 (31) 173 (35) Hypotension g 289 (30) 125 (25) Orthostatic hypotension h 212 (22) 81 (16) Pyrexia/Chills 268 (27) 88 (18) Leukocytosis 240 (25) 125 (25) Influenza like illness 226 (23) 102 (21) Neutropenia** 197 (20) 112 (23) Cough 168 (17) 88 (18) Lymph node pain 129 (13) 28 (6) Dizziness 121 (12) 44 (9) Diarrhea/Gastroenteritis/Enteritis 144 (15) 84 (17) Hyponatremia 112 (12) 65 (13) Peripheral swelling 107 (11) 30 (6) a Includes “myalgia”, “arthralgia”, “musculoskeletal pain”, “pain” and “back pain” b Includes “orthostatic heart rate increased”, “postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome”, “heart rate increased” and “sinus tachycardia” c Includes “orthostatic heart rate increased” and “postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome” d Includes “heart rate increased”, “tachycardia”, and “sinus tachycardia” e Includes “rash,” “papular rash” and “urticaria” f Includes “abdominal pain”, “abdominal pain upper” and “abdominal pain lower” g Includes “orthostatic hypotension”, “blood pressure orthostatic decreased”, “blood pressure decreased”, “mean arterial pressure decreased”, “hypotension” h Includes “orthostatic hypotension”, and “blood pressure orthostatic decreased” *Lymphocytopenia is defined as absolute lymphocyte count less than 1 x 10 9 /L **Neutropenia is defined as absolute neutrophil count less than 1 x 10 9 /L The most common adverse reactions in patients (N = 38) treated with 8 mg moxidectin in Trial 2 were similar to the adverse reactions noted in Trial 1 described in Table 2above. Other Adverse Reactions Reported in Clinical Trials (Trial 1 and Trial 2) The following adverse reactions occurred in less than 10% of subjects receiving Moxidectin Tablets in Trial 1: Ocular Adverse Reactions : In Trial 1, the most common ocular adverse reactions (occurring in ≥ 0.5% of patients) is shown in Table 3. Table 3: Ocular Adverse Reactions Occurring in ≥ 0.5% Moxidectin-treated Patients Adverse Reaction Moxidectin N = 978 n ( % ) Ivermectin N = 494 n ( % ) Eye pain 78 (8) 28 (6) Eye pruritus 64 (7) 26 (5) Visual impairment* 25 (3) 9 (2) Eyelid edema 21 (2) 5 (1) Conjunctivitis allergic 19 (2) 11 (2) Ocular discomfort** 18 (2) 11 (2) Ocular and conjunctival hyperemia 17 (2) 3 (1) Lacrimation increased 13 (1) 10 (2) *Includes “visual impairment”, “blurred vision” and “low vision acuity” **Includes “foreign body sensation”, “ocular discomfort” and “abnormal sensation in the eye” Hepatobiliary Adverse Reactions More patients in the moxidectin arm experienced elevation in bilirubin above the upper limit of normal and elevation in transaminases > 5x upper limit of normal. Twenty-seven (2.8%) patients in the moxidectin arm and 3 (0.6%) patients in the ivermectin arm had hyperbilirubinemia. Most of the patients had single measurements of hyperbilirubinemia without concurrent elevation in transaminases. Nine (1%) patients in the moxidectin arm and 2 (0.4%) patients in the ivermectin arm had elevation in ALT of more than 5x upper limit of normal; ten (1%) patients in the moxidectin arm and 3 (0.6%) patients in the ivermectin arm had elevation in AST to more than 5x upper limit of normal. Laboratory Abnormalities Laboratory abnormalities occurring in at least 1% of patients in Trial 1 are described in Table 4. Table 4: Laboratory Abnormalities in at least 1% of Moxidectin-treated Patients Parameter MOXIDECTIN ( N = 978) n (%) Ivermectin ( N = 494) n (%) Hematology Severe eosinophilia (> 5 x10 9 /L) 173 (18) 111 (23) Grade 3 lymphocytopenia (< 0.5 x10 9 /L) 220 (23) 98 (20) Grade 4 Neutrophils (< 0.5 x10 9 /L) 65 (7) 46 (9) Eosinopenia (< 0.045 x10 9 /L) 51 (5) 21 (4) Hepatobiliary GGT (> 5x upper limit of normal) 26 (3) 16 (3) Bilirubin (> 2x upper limit of normal) 14 (1) 2 (0.4) AST (> 5x upper limit of normal) 10 (1) 3 (0.6) ALT (> 5x upper limit of normal) 9 (1) 2 (0.4) Clinical Trials Experience in Pediatric Patients (4 Years to Less than 18 Years of Age) The safety of Moxidectin Tablets in pediatric patients is based on data from 2 studies, Trial 1 and Trial 3 (NCT01035619). Pediatric Patients in Trial 1 Trial 1 included 53 pediatric patients aged 12 to less than 18 years with confirmed onchocerciasis who received a single dose of Moxidectin Tablets 8 mg. Pediatric patients with confirmed infection experienced efficacy-related adverse reactions (Mazzotti reactions) such as abdominal pain, tachycardia, pyrexia, rash, peripheral swelling, and lymph node pain at a prevalence and severity similar to infected adults. Overall, the safety profile relative to age was similar across pediatric and adult patients studied in Trial 1. Pediatric Patients in Trial 3 Trial 3 was a single-arm, open-label, age-stratified, multi-cohort, safety and pharmacokinetic trial that evaluated 36 pediatric patients aged 4 to less than 18 years with unknown O. volvulus infection status from an onchocerciasis-endemic area in Ghana. Patients were stratified by age to receive a single dose of Moxidectin Tablets as follows: aged 12 to less than 18 years received 8 mg (N = 9), 8 to less than 12 years received 8 mg (N = 9) or 6 mg (N = 9), and 4 to less than 8 years received 4 mg (N = 9). Median weight was 34.8 kg (range: 30.8 to 55.5 kg) in patients 12 to less than 18 years of age, 25.1 kg (range: 19.4 to 36.8 kg) in patients 8 to less than 12 years, and 15.6 kg (range: 13.6 to 20.6 kg) in patients 4 to less than 8 years. A majority of patients were female (58%) and 100% were black. Mazzotti reactions were not seen in this population with unknown O. volvulus infection. The most common adverse reactions in these pediatric patients were abdominal pain and diarrhea, in 3/36 (8%) patients each. No new safety signals were noted in this pediatric patient population that were not already noted in Trial 1.
Use in pregnancy
8.1 Pregnancy Risk Summary Available data from clinical trials on the use of Moxidectin Tablets in pregnant women are insufficient to establish whether there is a moxidectin-associated risk for major birth defects and miscarriage . Moxidectin administered orally to pregnant rats during the period of organogenesis was not associated with significant embryo-fetal developmental effects at doses of approximately 15 times the recommended human dose based on body surface area (BSA) comparison. When moxidectin was dosed orally to pregnant rabbits during the period of organogenesis, no embryo-fetal developmental effects were observed at oral doses of moxidectin up to 24 times the recommended human dose based on BSA comparison ( see Data ) . Daily administration of moxidectin by oral gavage to maternal female rats during organogenesis and through lactation was associated with decreased survival, adverse clinical signs, and decreased body weights in first-generation offspring during the lactation period at a moxidectin dose less than 2-times the recommended human dose based on BSA comparison. Additional findings in first-generation offspring at the same dose included delays in pinna unfolding, eye opening, and vaginal opening. Other parameters, including reproduction and neurological development in first-generation offspring were not affected at any moxidectin dose ( see Data ) . The estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage for the indicated population is unknown. All pregnancies have a background risk of birth defect, loss or other adverse outcomes. In the U.S. general population, the estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage in clinically recognized pregnancies is 2% to 4% and 15% to 20%, respectively. Data Animal Data In a rat embryo-fetal development study, daily oral administration of moxidectin at 12 mg/kg/day (approximately 15 times the recommended human dose of 8 mg based on BSA comparison) during Gestation Days (GDs) 6 to 15 significantly increased the fetal incidence, but not the litter incidence of cleft palate and the fetal and litter incidence of a skeletal variation, wavy ribs, at a maternally toxic dose. Mean maternal food consumption, body weights, and body weight gain were significantly decreased at moxidectin doses of 10 and 12 mg/kg/day compared to control values. The no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) value for maternal and fetal toxicity was considered to be 5 and 10 mg/kg/day respectively (approximately 6 and 12 times, respectively, the recommended human dose based on BSA comparison). In the rabbit, daily oral administration of moxidectin at ≥ 5 mg/kg/day from GD 7 to GD 19 was not associated with fetal weight loss or malformations but resulted in significantly decreased maternal food consumption and body weight gains. The NOAEL values for maternal and fetal toxicity in the rabbit was 1 mg/kg/day and 10 mg/kg/day respectively (approximately 2 times and 24 times, respectively, the recommended human dose based on BSA comparison). In a pre-postnatal study, moxidectin doses of 0.2 and 0.5 mg/kg/day were administered by oral gavage to maternal female rats from GD 6 throughout the lactation period until LD 21. A third dose group that received maternal doses of 1.5 mg/kg/day moxidectin (less than 2-times the recommended human dose based on BSA comparison) was divided into two cohorts with Cohort 1 receiving maternal doses from GD 6 until LD 10 and Cohort 2 receiving maternal doses from GD 6 until each individual animal littered, but not during the lactation period. First-generation offspring in Cohort 1 had adverse clinical signs (small body size, thin, weak, subdued/sluggish, pale, cold to touch, respiratory distress, blue coloration and/or no visible milk in stomach) and decreased survival and body weights during the lactation period. However, first-generation offspring in Cohort 2 did not experience adverse clinical signs, body weight loss, or reduced survival suggesting moxidectin in lactation milk was responsible for the adverse effects in offspring in Cohort 1. Additional findings included delays in pinna unfolding and eye opening in male and female offspring in both cohorts and delay of vaginal opening in female offspring in Cohort 2. No adverse effects were noted in offspring at a maternal dose of 0.5 mg/kg/day (approximately 0.6 times the recommended human dose based on BSA comparison). Reproductive performance based on mating and fertility indices and neurological development were not affected in male and female first-generation offspring at any of the administered moxidectin doses. In another pre-postnatal study in rats, parental oral administration of dietary moxidectin prior to mating, through mating, gestation, and lactation did not produce adverse effects in first-generation or second-generation offspring at a maternal NOAEL dose of 0.824 mg/kg/day (approximately equivalent to the recommended human dose based on BSA comparison). However, at moxidectin doses ≥ 1.1 mg/kg/day (approximately equivalent to 1.3 times the recommended human dose based on BSA comparison), the survival and body weights of first-generation offspring were significantly decreased during the lactation period, and the number of live fetuses at birth was significantly decreased with a maternal moxidectin dose of 11 mg/kg/day (approximately equivalent to 13 times the recommended human dose based on BSA comparison). In this study, offspring were assessed for survival, body weights, and fertility, and developmental milestones were not assessed.

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