Atovaquone and Proguanil (Systemic)

Brand Names : Malarone

Before Using This Medicine

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For atovaquone and proguanil , the following should be considered:

Allergies - Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to atovaquone or proguanil hydrochloride. Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as preservatives or dyes.

Pregnancy - Atovaquone and proguanil combination has not been studied in pregnant women. However, this medicine has not been shown to cause birth defects or other problems in animal studies. Before taking this medicine, make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant or if you may become pregnant It is advisable for pregnant women to avoid traveling to areas where there is a chance of getting malaria.

Breast-feeding - It is not known if atovaquone passes into human breast milk, but it was found in the milk of rats. Proguanil passes into breast milk, but in small quantities. Be sure you have discussed the risks and benefits of this medicine with your doctor.

Children - Studies on this medicine have been done only in patients who weigh more than 25 pounds (11 kilograms [kg]) and there is no specific information comparing use of atovaquone and proguanil combination in patients of lesser weight.

Older adults - Many medicines have not been studied specifically in older people. Therefore, it may not be known whether they work exactly the same way they do in younger adults or if they cause different side effects or problems in older people. There is no specific information comparing use of atovaquone and proguanil in the elderly with use in other age groups.

Other medicines - Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking atovaquone and proguanil, it is especially important that your health care professional know if you are taking any of the following:

• Rifampin (e.g., Rifadin) - Use of rifampin may decrease the amount of atovaquone in the blood and keep it from working properly

• Metoclopramide (e.g., Reglan) - Use of metoclopramide with atovaquone and proguanil may lessen the amount of atovaquone your body absorbs
• Tetracycline (e.g., Sumycin) - Use of tetracycline lowers the amount of atovaquone in your blood.

Other medical problems - The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of atovaquone and proguanil. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Diarrhea or vomiting - The amount of atovaquone and proguanil the body can absorb may be decreased.

• Kidney disease or failure - The amount of atovaquone and proguanil the body can eliminate may be decreased.

• Return of previously treated malaria - Atovaquone and proguanil may not work in treating the malaria again; your doctor may need to give you another type of medicine