The mechanism of action of anthelmintic agents varies depending on the drug and the type of parasite it targets. Generally, these medications work by disrupting the metabolic processes of the worms, leading to their paralysis and eventual death. For example, albendazole and mebendazole inhibit the polymerization of tubulin, crucial for helminth survival, while praziquantel increases the permeability of the worm's cell membranes to calcium ions, causing paralysis.
