Levamisole resinateProduct ingredient for Levamisole

Levamisole is an antihelminthic drug that was commonly used for the treatment of parasitic, viral, and bacterial infections. ⁴ It was manufactured by Janssen and first used in 1969 as an agent to treat worm infestations⁶ Levamisole was approved by the FDA in 1990 as an adjuvant treatment for colon cancer.⁷ Prior to this, levamisole was used as an antirheumatic therapy in the 1970s and 1980s for patients with rheumatoid arthritis.⁶

Because of its immunomodulatory effects, this drug has been studied in the treatment of various immune-mediated diseases, with some studies showing positive results. ⁴ This drug has also been used in combination with other drugs for the treatment of various cancers. ^4,6

Levamisole was withdrawn from the American market in 2000 due to its ability to cause serious adverse effects, including agranulocytosis. ⁶ Interestingly, levamisole has been found as an adulterant in cocaine and can lead to a variety of adverse effects in individuals using this drug.⁵