Dr Catriona Maybury
Medical Director | MBChB, MRCP, PhD
GMC: 6130975
- UK registered pharmacy
- UK licensed treatments
- Trusted by over 675,000 people
Express delivery
- Royal Mail 1st Class£2.90Usually delivered the next working day
- Special Delivery 1pm£5.95Guaranteed next working day by 1pm
- Special Delivery 9am£13.95Guaranteed next working day by 9am
- Post Office Collection£3.95Usually collection next working day
- Same Day (London)from £4.95Cost calculated at checkout
Ovex information
Ovex Family Pack is a medicine used to treat threadworm (sometimes known as pinworm) infections of the gut. The tablets contain mebendazole, which is one of a group of medicines called anthelmintic. This medicine is for use in adults and children aged over 2 years.
Ovex treats threadworms in family households. Threadworms are a common type of parasitic worm that can be spotted in the stools of young children. Other signs of threadworms include:
- Excessive itchiness around the anus or vagina, especially at night
- Irritability and waking up in the night
In rare cases, threadworms can also cause:
- Weight loss
- Bed-wetting
- Irritated skin around the anus
While it’s more common for children to get threadworms, they’re contagious and can be spread across an entire family if they’re not treated. Threadworms lay eggs around the anus, which causes itching. The eggs then get stuck on your fingers after scratching, and can be passed on to anything you touch, including food. The eggs then hatch when swallowed, allowing the threadworms to spread further.
Mebendazole, the active ingredient in each dose of Ovex, is an anthelmintic — a type of medication used to treat parasitic worm infestations. It works by preventing the worms using glucose in the body, which they need in order to survive. Without glucose, their energy levels deplete and they die within a few days.
In most instances, threadworms will die within a few days of taking Ovex. It’s important to remember, however, that while the threadworms in your body will die, eggs that have already passed to surfaces in the household won’t. In fact, threadworm eggs can survive for as long as two weeks outside the human body. That’s why, after taking the treatment, it’s crucial to:
- Wash your hands and scrub under your fingernails
- Ensure your children wash their hands regularly
- Have a shower or bath every day
- Rinse toothbrushes before you use them
- Trim fingernails short
- Wash your pyjamas, bed sheets, towels and any soft toys your children own
- Clean your kitchen and bathroom surfaces with disinfectant
- Vacuum and dust regularly
- Make your children wear underwear at night and change it in the morning
The regular family pack contains four single dose tablets — one for each member of the family. Each family member should take their tablet with water at the same time. Tablets may be chewed or swallowed whole.
Ovex may cause side effects in some people, though these are usually mild. They include:
- Stomach pain
- Bloating and wind
- Diarrhoea
- Blisters on your skin, mouth, eyes or genitals
- Yellowing of the skin or whites in your eyes
Always read the patient information leaflet before starting treatment.View patient information leaflet
30,000+ verified customer reviews
“Highly recommended”
Amazing and no hassle at all. Highly recommended to anyone asks.
“Easy to order”
Excellent service. Easy to order and super fast delivery. Thank you
“I highly recommend”
Fabulous service, fast delivery 💕 perfect 💕 I highly recommend 💕
“Superb”
I've used MedExpress twice now, and they have been superb. My orders have come on time no problems whatsoever. So I recommend them...
“Very impressed”
I have been very impressed with the ease of the ordering process and the quality of the products I have received!
“Fast and efficient”
Fast and efficient delivery. Cheaper than some other online pharmacies.
“They're amazing”
Brilliant, so easy to use they send everything really quick
“Top Class”
Excellent value, best I've found. No forced commitment to a subscription of any kind. All products purchased so far have been...
“Very satisfied customer”
Quick delivery and exactly what I asked for. Very satisfied customer.
“First time ordering. Impressed.”
First time ordering. Picked standard delivery to get before Sat. Got within 1 day of ordering!
“Great service”
Superb service and very fast delivery
“Highly recommend great service”
Would highly recommend — friendly staff quick to answer all my queries — fast discreet service and easy to re order — would always...
“Ordered with ease”
Good website, easy to use and found what I wanted and ordered with ease.
“Brilliant company”
Great customer service very efficient. I've been really impressed with them I won't use any other on line chemist now.
Why use MedExpress?
Trusted by more than 675,000 customers since 2013
London based licenced pharmacy
Fast, flexible delivery options
Lowest price guarantee †
Backed by our experienced UK-based medical team
Declan Lismore
Superintendent Pharmacist | MPharm, MRPharmS, MPSI, PGDip
GPhC: 2073498
Dr Paul Davis
UK Medical Operations Lead | BSc MB BS DCH MRCGP
Dr Safia Hussain
GP Lead | MBBS, BSc, MRCGP, DRCOG, PGDip Clinical Dermatology
Lowest price guarantee
We’re confident you won’t find the same medication and service cheaper. If you do, we'll offer you the difference — and an additional £5. Subject to terms.
Authored by Dr Clare Morrison. Last reviewed 01 February 2024 by Liyya Patel and Siobhan Titre.