Levamisole: EMA Confirms Rare but Serious Brain Risk
Yes—the headline is based on a genuine 2026 EMA safety action. The European Medicines Agency (EMA) recommended withdrawing medicines containing levamisole from the EU market after a safety review confirmed a rare but potentially severe neurological reaction called leukoencephalopathy.
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European Medicines Agency (EMA)
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What is levamisole?
Levamisole is an anthelmintic (deworming medicine) used to treat certain parasitic worm infections. In the EU, human medicines containing levamisole included products such as Decaris and Levamisol Arena.
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European Medicines Agency (EMA)
What is the serious risk?
Leukoencephalopathy damages the brain’s white matter—the nerve fibers involved in communication between different areas of the brain. In severe cases it can be disabling or life-threatening.
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European Medicines Agency (EMA)
Importantly, EMA found that:
The reaction can occur after just one dose.
Symptoms can appear from about one day to several months after treatment.
No particular group of patients was identified as being clearly at higher or lower risk.
No effective measure was identified that could reliably prevent the reaction.
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European Medicines Agency (EMA)
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Symptoms to watch for
Someone who has recently taken levamisole should seek medical advice promptly if they develop:
Muscle weakness
Difficulty speaking
Confusion or cognitive problems
Difficulty controlling movements
Problems with balance or coordination
Loss of strength or paralysis
These symptoms can vary depending on which areas of the brain are affected.
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European Medicines Agency (EMA)
Does this mean everyone who took levamisole will develop brain damage?
No. Leukoencephalopathy is described as a rare adverse reaction. The concern is that when it does occur, it can be serious and unpredictable. EMA concluded that, because levamisole is used for relatively mild parasitic infections and alternative deworming medicines are available, its benefits no longer outweigh its risks for those EU uses.
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European Medicines Agency (EMA)
What should someone who has taken it do?
If you or your child currently take or recently took levamisole, don’t panic and don’t take another dose simply because you think you need deworming treatment. Contact a doctor or pharmacist for advice, particularly if neurological symptoms have appeared. EMA specifically advises people with questions about past or current levamisole treatment to contact their doctor.
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European Medicines Agency (EMA)
The EU withdrawal concerns medicines containing levamisole; it does not mean that every product or use of levamisole worldwide has automatically been withdrawn. National regulatory decisions can differ.
EMA’s official levamisole safety information
Bottom line: The 2026 EMA action is real. Levamisole can rarely cause serious brain white-matter damage, potentially even after a single dose, which led European regulators to recommend withdrawal because safer alternatives are available.
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