What are Ovex Tablets?

Ovex is a treatment for threadworm (also known as pinworm) and other less common worm infections. Each tablet contains 100 mg of mebendazole, an anthelmintic medicine that kills worms in the gut. Ovex is available as chewable tablets or an oral suspension, making it suitable for both adults and children.

How Do Ovex Tablets Work?

Mebendazole works by preventing worms from absorbing the sugars they need to survive. Without energy, the worms die and are passed out of the body in stools. One dose is usually enough to clear threadworm, but a second dose may be needed after two weeks to prevent reinfection.

Symptoms of Threadworm Infection

Threadworm infections are common, especially in children. Symptoms may include:

Itching around the bottom or vagina, often worse at night
Restless sleep or irritability
Seeing tiny white worms (like thin threads) in stools or around the anus
Loss of appetite or mild stomach discomfort (in some cases)

Alternative Treatment Options

Other ways to manage threadworm include:

1. Treating all household members at the same time, whether or not they have symptoms
2. Washing hands, bedding, towels, and underwear regularly to prevent reinfection
3. Keeping fingernails short and discouraging nail-biting or thumb-sucking in children
4. In some cases, other prescription anthelmintics may be used if mebendazole is not suitable

Preventing reinfection

Because threadworms spread easily, it is important to treat the whole household at the same time. Good hygiene measures help prevent reinfection, including:

Regular handwashing, especially after using the toilet and before eating
Daily bathing and changing underwear
Washing bed linen and towels frequently
Keeping fingernails short and discouraging nail-biting or thumb-sucking in children

Can Ovex Tablets Be Purchased Over the Counter?

Yes. In the UK, Ovex is available without a prescription from pharmacies and some retailers. A pharmacist may ask about symptoms and who else in the household needs treatment before supply.

Directions for Use

• Adults and children over 2 years: Take one 100 mg tablet as a single dose.
• The tablet can be chewed, crushed, or swallowed whole with water.
• In cases of persistent threadworm, a second dose may be taken after 2 weeks to prevent reinfection.
• All household members should be treated at the same time, even if they do not have symptoms.
• Not recommended for children under 2 years unless advised by a doctor.
• Good hygiene measures should be followed alongside treatment to prevent reinfection.

Active Ingredient

Mebendazole 100 mg per tablet

Inactive Ingredients (Excipients)

Maize starch
Microcrystalline cellulose
Sodium starch glycolate
Magnesium stearate
Sodium saccharin
Sodium laurilsulfate
Anhydrous colloidal silica
Flavouring agents (including orange flavour)

Always check the patient information leaflet (PIL) in your pack for the full ingredient list — especially if you have allergies or sensitivities.

Common side effects (affecting up to 1 in 10 people)

Abdominal pain
Diarrhoea
Flatulence

Uncommon or rare side effects

Rash, itching, or hives
Dizziness
Hair loss (temporary, very rare with repeated use)

Serious but very rare side effects

Severe allergic reaction with swelling of the face, lips, or throat and difficulty breathing (seek urgent medical help)
Convulsions (reported mainly in children under 2 years, where use is not routinely recommended)

Most side effects are mild and short-lived. If symptoms are severe or persistent, stop taking Ovex and consult a doctor.