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primaquine (Primachin, Neo-Quipentyl)

Tradename: Prymaccone. (primaquine phosphate) Indications: - Malaria: (Plasmodium vivax, Plasmodium ovale) - Pneumocystis pneumonia due to Pneumocytis carinii (in combination with clindamycin) Contraindications: Caution: 1) G6PD deficiency 2) NADH methemoglobin reductase deficiency 3) acutely ill patients who tend to develop granulocytopenia 4) concurrent administration of other agents which supress the bone marrow Dosage: (take with meals) 1) Malaria: (Plasmodium vivax or ovale) a) 26.3 mg PO QD b) 15 mg/day (base) or 45 mg (base) once weekly for 8 weeks c) children: 1] 0.3 mg/kg/day (base) (not to exceed 15 mg base/day) for 14 days 2] 0.9 mg/kg/day (base) weekly for 8 weeks (not to exceed 45 mg base/week) 2) Pneumocystis carinii a) 26.3 mg PO QD (15-30 mg QD) b) used in conjunction with clindamycin 900 mg IV every 8 hours 3) do NOT exceed the recommended dosage Tabs: 26.3 mg (15 mg base) Pharmacokinetics: 1) well absorbed after oral administration 2) metabolized in the liver to an active metabolite 3) 1/2life is 3.7-9.6 hours 4) small amount excreted unchanged in the urine Adverse effects: 1) common (> 10%) - hemolytic anemia, abdominal pain, nausea/vomiting 2) less common (1-10%) - methemoglobinemia 3) uncommon (< 1%) - leukopenia, agranulocytosis, arrhythmias, headache, pruritus, leukocytosis, interference with visual accomodation Mechanism of action: - may interfere with function of Plasmodium DNA

Interactions

drug interactions drug adverse effects of antimalarials

General

antimalarial

Properties

MISC-INFO: elimination route LIVER 1/2life 3.7-9.6 HOURS pregnancy-category - safety in lactation -

Database Correlations

PUBCHEM correlations

References

  1. The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics, 9th ed. Gilman et al, eds. Permagon Press/McGraw Hill, 1996
  2. Drug Information & Medication Formulary, Veterans Affairs, Central California Health Care System, 1st ed., Ravnan et al eds, 1998
  3. Kaiser Permanente Northern California Regional Drug Formulary, 1998
  4. Deprecated Reference