General Information
Uses
What should I know before taking this drug
Precautions
Dosage information
Adverse reactions
Storage
Additional information if any
Malirid (IPCA)
Malquine (Ind-Swift)
Primaquine is a prescription drug available from your pharmacy store only with the prescription of a qualified medical practitioner.
Primaquine is pronounced as: PRIM-uh-kwin
Primaquine is anti-infective / anti malarial drug.
Primaquine is used primarily for the radical treatment of vivax and ovale malaria.
Other condition primaquine is used is in the treatment of pneumonia.
Take primaquine exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not understand these instructions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you.
Take each dose of primaquine with or immediately after meal with a full glass (250 ml) of water to avoid gastric upset.
Do not skip any doses of primaquin. Continue to take it even when you feel better. You must complete the entire course of medication. If you don't, the infection will not clear completely and in due course may cause recurrence of the disease.
- Always remember to inform your health expert if you are currently taking any prescription like, anti depressants, other antimalarials, and antacids, beta blockers, anti arrhythmic drugs etc or OTC medication.
- Inform your doctor if you have following medical conditions as primaquine is used with caution in the below mentioned conditions
- Glucose 6 phosphate dehydrogenase(G6PD) deficiency
- Systemic lupus erythematosus
- Rheumatoid arthritis
You should not take primaquine if you are hypersensitive to quinine and related drugs.
Old people: It should used cautiously in elderly individuals as the incidence of side effects is more in them.
Pregnant woman: Primaquine belongs to FDA pregnancy category C. This means that primaquine may harm an unborn baby if used during pregnancy but potential benefit may warrant use of the drug in pregnant woman despite potential risks. Always inform your doctor if you are pregnant or are planning for conception.
Lactating women: It is not known whether primaquine passes into breast milk or if it could harm the baby. Do not take primaquine with out first talking to doctor if you are breast feeding a baby.
Other:
Primaquine is available in the form of tablet.
Use primaquine as directed by your physician, your physician prescribes depending on the severity of the disease.
Use the complete course of medication as prescribed by your physician even though you feel better after one or two days of usage of medication.
If it is almost the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose and resume your usual dosing schedule. Do not take two doses at same time to cover up the missed dose.
In case of overdose contact your nearest poison control centre or emergency medical centre for immediate care by physician.
The over dosage symptoms are
- Irregular heart beat
- Sever stomach pain
The most common side effects that you may experience on taking primaquine medication are
- Abdominal pain
- Diarrhoea
- Nausea and vomiting
- Rash
- itching
Consult you doctor immediately if you experience the following adverse effects
- Allergic reaction like swollen lips, shortness of breath, constricting sensation in the throat etc
- Passage of dark urine
- Bluish skin, nail
- Light headedness
- weakness
Store primaquine at room temp (15 – 30 degrees C). Avoid excessive heat, moisture or direct sunlight, never store in the bathroom.
Keep it out of reach of children. Make sure that any left over portion is disposed off safely.
- Before starting primaquine your physician may advise you to undergo test for G6PD as these individuals are prone for Haemolysis.
- To attain complete cure of malaria it is essential that the drug should be taken regularly. However in spite of adequate treatment malaria can still relapse. Consult your doctor immediately if you get fever after complete course of therapy.
- Follow other mosquito protective measures like insect repellents, sprays, wearing long sleeved clothing, using bed nets etc to prevent malaria.
It is imp to read manufacturing packaging instruction carefully if available and always do not hesitate to consult pharmacist or physician for any information.
Written by: Healthplus24 team
Date: Feb19th,09