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atovaquone (Mepron)
Tradename: Mepron.
Indications:
1) treatment of mild to moderately severe Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) in patients intolerant of trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole
2) prophylaxis for Pneumocystis pneumonia
3) used in combination with proguanil in Malarone for prophylaxis & treatment of chloroquine-resistant malaria
4) treatment of babesiosis
5) treatment of toxoplasmosis Warnings: use with caution in elderly patients
Dosage: 750 mg PO BID [1], TID [2] for 21 days.
Suspension: 750 mg/5 mL (210 mL).
Pharmacokinetics:
- absorption increased by food
Adverse effects:
1) common (>10%)
- headache
- fever
- insomnia
- anxiety
- rash
- nausea/vomiting
- diarrhea
- cough
2) less common (1-10%)
- asthenia, dizziness, pruritus, hypoglycemia, hyponatremia, abdominal pain, constipation, anorexia, dyspepsia, anemia, neutropenia, leukopenia, elevated BUN/creatinine, cough, elevated amylase & liver enzymes, oral Monilia
Drug interactions:
1) rifampin decreases atovaquone levels
2) zidovudine increases atovaquone levels
Laboratory:
- atovaquone in serum/plasma
Interactions
drug interactions
General
antiprotozoal agent
Properties
MISC-INFO: elimination route LIVER
pregnancy-category C
safety in lactation ?
Database Correlations
PUBCHEM cid=74989
References
- The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics, 9th ed.
Gilman et al, eds. Permagon Press/McGraw Hill, 1996
- Kaiser Permanente Northern California Regional Drug
Formulary, 1998
- Medical Knowledge Self Assessment Program (MKSAP) 11, American
College of Physicians, Philadelphia 1998
- Prescriber's Letter 7(8):48 2000
- Department of Veterans Affairs, VA National Formulary
- Deprecated Reference
Component-of
atovaquone/proguanil (Malarone)