No. Vermox is a brand name for mebendazole, a different medicine from ivermectin; the two treat different parasitic infections.
No. Vermox® is a brand name for mebendazole, and mebendazole is a completely different medicine from ivermectin. The two belong to different drug classes and are used to treat different parasitic infections.
If you searched for "Vermox vs ivermectin," what you are really comparing is mebendazole versus ivermectin. This page explains what each name refers to, what each medicine's official brand label covers, and why the two are so often confused. For a deeper side-by-side of the two drugs themselves, see our full [ivermectin vs. mebendazole comparison](/compare/ivermectin-vs-mebendazole).
## What Vermox is
Vermox is a brand name for mebendazole, an antiparasitic in the benzimidazole class. Benzimidazoles act on structures inside intestinal worms that the parasite needs to take up nutrients, so the worm cannot survive and is cleared from the digestive tract.
One point for anyone searching the brand name: according to Drugs@FDA, the Vermox brand is listed as discontinued in the United States — both the 100 mg and the later 500 mg chewable tablet applications from Janssen carry a "Discontinued" marketing status, and the FDA's record notes the product was not withdrawn for reasons of safety or effectiveness.
Mebendazole itself remains available in the U.S. by prescription; the currently marketed prescription brand of mebendazole chewable tablets is Emverm®. So when people search for "Vermox," in practice they are looking for mebendazole. For the approval status of the active ingredient, see [is mebendazole approved for humans](/learn/medications/is-mebendazole-approved-for-humans).
## What ivermectin is
Ivermectin is an antiparasitic medicine in the avermectin class, a different family of drugs entirely. It works by binding to specific chloride channels in the nerve and muscle cells of certain parasites, which paralyzes them.
In the United States, oral ivermectin tablets were approved under the brand name Stromectol®. That relationship is the mirror image of the one on this page: Stromectol and ivermectin *are* the same active ingredient, one being a brand name and the other the drug substance. We cover that in [is Stromectol the same as ivermectin?](/learn/medications/is-stromectol-the-same-as-ivermectin)
## Side-by-side comparison
| | Mebendazole (brand: Vermox, Emverm) | Ivermectin (brand: Stromectol) | |---|---|---| | Drug class | Benzimidazole anthelmintic | Avermectin antiparasitic | | Labeled uses (per brand label) | Gastrointestinal hookworm, roundworm, pinworm, and whipworm infections | Intestinal (non-disseminated) strongyloidiasis and onchocerciasis (river blindness) | | Prescription required in the U.S. | Yes | Yes |
The two labels do not overlap: a prescriber choosing between them is choosing between two different sets of approved indications, not two versions of the same product. We do not publish dosing instructions here — the prescribing provider determines the regimen, strength, and duration for each patient, and patients should follow the directions on their own prescription label.
## Why people confuse the two
Both are oral antiparasitics prescribed for worm infections, so they appear in the same search results, and people often meet a brand name first — Vermox on an old label — without realizing it means mebendazole.
## Which one a provider might prescribe
Neither medicine is a general-purpose option a patient should choose for themselves. The choice depends on which infection has been identified, along with your symptoms, other medications, and medical history — a pinworm infection and a *Strongyloides* infection are not treated with the same drug. An independent licensed provider determines whether either medication is appropriate for a labeled use, or whether you should be evaluated in person instead. A prescription is never guaranteed. See [which medication is right for me?](/learn/medications/which-medication-is-right-for-me)
## How to get either one prescribed
Both are prescription-only in the United States, so the first step is a consultation. Through Get It Prescribed, you complete a health questionnaire and an independent licensed provider reviews it; depending on your state and the provider's judgment, that review may also include a phone or video call — see [how it works](/how-it-works). If a prescription is appropriate, the medication is filled by a licensed pharmacy. Product details are on the [mebendazole](/medications/mebendazole) and [ivermectin](/medications/ivermectin) pages. A one-time $50 provider consultation fee covers the review for both medications; mebendazole is $3.50 per 222 mg capsule and ivermectin is $3.00 per 24 mg tablet, with quantity set by the provider. Full details are on our [pricing page](/pricing).
Important regulatory distinction: both preparations described above are compounded preparations — the 222 mg mebendazole capsule and the 24 mg scored ivermectin tablet are filled by a PCAB-accredited compounding pharmacy pursuant to a valid prescription written for an individual patient. Compounded preparations are not FDA-approved drug products, and the FDA does not review them for safety, effectiveness, or manufacturing quality. Vermox, Emverm, and Stromectol are FDA-approved manufactured drug products. Our preparations share the same active ingredients, but they are not a generic of, substitute for, or therapeutic equivalent to any of those branded products.
Service is available in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. See [state availability](/availability).
## Related questions
### Is Vermox just another name for ivermectin? No. Vermox is a brand name for mebendazole. Ivermectin is a separate medicine in a different drug class, used for different parasitic infections.
### Can I still get Vermox in the United States? Drugs@FDA lists the Vermox brand as discontinued in the U.S. Mebendazole itself is still available by prescription, including the currently marketed Emverm brand of chewable tablets.
### Is mebendazole the same as ivermectin? No. Mebendazole is a benzimidazole; ivermectin is an avermectin. Their labeled indications do not overlap. Our [ivermectin vs. mebendazole comparison](/compare/ivermectin-vs-mebendazole) covers the differences in more depth.
### Does Get It Prescribed dispense Vermox, Emverm, or Stromectol? No. We provide compounded mebendazole 222 mg capsules and compounded ivermectin 24 mg tablets. These contain the same active ingredients but are not FDA-approved drug products and are not substitutes for those brands.
### Can I choose between mebendazole and ivermectin myself? No. Which medication, if either, is appropriate depends on the specific infection and your medical history, and that determination is made by a licensed provider.
### Do I need a prescription for either medicine? Yes. Both oral mebendazole and oral ivermectin are prescription-only in the United States and require evaluation by a licensed provider.
Emverm is another brand name you may see for mebendazole — see [is Emverm the same as mebendazole](/learn/medications/is-emverm-the-same-as-mebendazole).
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Vermox® is a registered trademark of Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Get It Prescribed is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Emverm® is a registered trademark of Amneal Pharmaceuticals LLC. Get It Prescribed is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Amneal Pharmaceuticals LLC. Stromectol® is a registered trademark of Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC. Get It Prescribed is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC.
## Sources - [Drugs@FDA: VERMOX (mebendazole), NDA 208398](https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/daf/index.cfm?event=overview.process&ApplNo=208398) — FDA approval record and current marketing status for the Vermox brand. - [DailyMed: EMVERM (mebendazole) chewable tablet label](https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=a8c46363-f739-4f6e-bca8-1ce5e8d3f78d) — official prescribing information and labeled indications for mebendazole. - [DailyMed: STROMECTOL (ivermectin) tablet label](https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=681888c9-af79-4b7d-ae80-c3f4f6f1effd) — official prescribing information and labeled indications for ivermectin. - [FDA Orange Book: Approved Drug Products with Therapeutic Equivalence Evaluations](https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/ob/index.cfm) — searchable record of approved drug products. - [WHO: Soil-transmitted helminth infections fact sheet](https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/soil-transmitted-helminth-infections) — background on the intestinal worm infections these medicines treat.