Primaquine

Indications
 Oral
Radical treatment of vivax or ovale malaria
Adult: A course of treatment with a blood schizontocide should be given first to kill any erythrocytic parasites. 15 mg daily for 14 days, increased to higher doses or longer course if resistance in P.vivax occurs.
Child: 250 mcg/kg daily for 14 days.
Oral
Prophylaxis of chloroquine-resistant malaria
Adult: 30 mg once daily; to be started 1-2 days before travel and continue for 7 days after departure from the malaria-endemic area.
Child: 0.5 mg/kg once daily for 14 days. Max: 30 mg/day. Alternatively, for patients with mild G6PD deficiency: 45 mg once wkly for 8 wk.
Contraindications
 Hypersensitivity. Childn <1 yr. Acute flare-ups of systemic diseases (RA, SLE) having tendency for agranulocytopaenia, Pregnancy and lactation.
Warnings / Precautions
 G6PD deficiency; pregnancy; NADH methaemoglobin reductase deficient patients. Monitor Hb levels and blood counts routinely. Patients with systemic diseases that have an increased risk of granulocytopenia. Withdraw treatment if signs of haemolysis or methaemogloinaemia occur.
Adverse Reactions
 Nausea, vomiting, epigastric distress, abdominal cramps, leukopaenia, leucocytosis, agranulocytosis, methaemoglobinemia in NADH methaemoglobin reductase-deficient individuals.
Potentially Fatal: Haemolytic anaemia (G6PD deficient), thrombocytopaenia, leucopaenia, AV block.
Drug Interactions
 Primaquine may inhibit metabolism of chloroquine. Avoid ethanol.
Potentially Fatal: Mepacrine may potentiate toxicity of primaquine. Potentially haemolytic drugs eg, sulphonamides, nitrofurans and bone marrow suppressants eg, methotrexate, phenylbutazone, chloramphenicol should not be co-admin with primaquine.
See Below for More primaquine Drug Interactions
Mechanism of Actions
 Primaquine is an 8-aminoquinoline antimalarial which eliminates the exoerythrocytic forms of malarial parasite P.vivax, P. falciparum by disrupting mitochondria and binding to DNA. By this action primaquine achieves radical cure of vivax malaria. It is also active against gametocytes of P.falciparum.
Absorption: Readily absorbed from the GIT; peak plasma concentrations after 1-2 hr (oral).
Distribution: Widely distributed throughout body tissues. Protein-binding: 98%
Metabolism: Hepatic; converted to carboxyprimaquine (major metabolite).
Excretion: Urine (as unchanged drug); 3-6 hr (elimination half-life).
Administration
 Should be taken with food. (Take w/ meals to avoid GI discomfort.)
Storage Conditions
 Oral: Store at 25°C.
ATC Classification
 P01BA03 - primaquine ; Belongs to the class of aminoquinoline antimalarials.
Storage
 Oral: Store at 25°C.
Available As
  • Primaquine 15 mg
  • Primaquine 2.5 mg
  • Primaquine 7.5 mg

    • Subscribe for latest updates

    Subscribe to our e-mail newsletter to receive updates.

    No comments yet.

    Post Review about Primaquine


    Primaquine Containing Brands

    We are Developing Our database, More results coming soon.

    Primaquine is used in following diseases

    We are Developing Our database, More results coming soon.

    Drug - Drug Interactions of Primaquine

    We are Developing Our database, More results coming soon.