Albendazole is a broad spectrum anthelmintic effective against roundworms and, depending on the dose also against some tapeworms (e.g. Moniezia spp) and a few trematodes (e.g. Fasciola hepatica adults). It is completely ineffective against external parasites. Oral administration is the rule. It is used massively in livestock (manily in drenches and feed additives), and only moderately in pets (often in tablets, pills, etc. or oral suspensions). There are hundreds of generic brands worldwide, also in mixtures with other anthelmintics. In ruminants, a 50% reduction of the diet 36 prior and 8 hours after treatment slows down the passage through the stomach, which increases the bioavailability of albendazole and its metabolites and consequently its efficacy against gastrointestinal parasites. In carnivores (incl. dogs and cats) delivery with the food increases the bioavailability of all benzimidazoles resulting in a better efficacy. All benzimidazoles have almost no residual effect, i.e. they kill the parasites during a few hours after treatment but offer no significant protection against re-infestation.