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Malarone

Generic Name: Atovaquone and proguanil [a-TOE-va-kwone-and-pro-GWAHN-il].
The Brand Names: Malarone, Malarone, and Malarone for children.
Drug Class: Antimalarial combinations.

What is Malarone?

Malarone comprises a mix of proguanil and atovaquone. Atovaquone and proguanil are medicines that treat malaria, which is a parasite-related disease. Malarone acts by interfering with and preventing the proliferation of parasites inside the blood vessels in the human body. The malaria-causing parasites are typically introduced into the body by the bite of mosquitoes. The spread of malaria is prevalent in regions like Africa, South America, and southern Asia. The Malarone drug is employed to treat malaria. Malarone is also employed for reasons not mentioned in this guideline.

Warnings

Malarone is not recommended when you are allergic to proguanil or atovaquone. You shouldn't use Malarone to stop malaria if you suffer from an extremely severe renal disease.

Before you start using Malarone, consult your doctor if you suffer from kidney or liver problems, serious complications resulting from malaria-related infections, or if you experience uncontrolled diarrhea or vomiting. Use Malarone with food every day, along with meals or drinks that contain milk. In the event that you have a vomiting episode within an hour of taking this medicine, you should take a different dose. If your vomiting persists, contact your doctor.If you're taking Malarone to avoid malaria, begin taking it a couple of days prior to arriving in an area in which malaria is prevalent. The medication should be taken daily throughout your stay and for at least seven days after you quit. When you decide to stop using the medication in the middle of the day for any reason, consult a medical professional for a different form of malaria treatment. If you're using this medication to fight malaria, you should take the medicine daily for three days in succession. Use Malarone for the entire time period prescribed. Your symptoms may worsen before the infection is completely gone.

Alongside taking Malarone, make sure you wear protection clothes, insect repellents, and mosquito nets around your bed to protect yourself from mosquito bites that can cause malaria. Get in touch with your doctor as quickly as you can after having experienced malaria or if you experience symptoms of illness after or during your stay in a region that is prone to malaria.

The medication cannot be 100 percent efficient in preventing or treating malaria. To get the best results, continue taking the medication according to the instructions. Discuss with your doctor any nausea, fever, or diarrhea throughout the course of treatment.

Before you take this drug

You shouldn't take Malarone if you have an allergy to proguanil or atovaquone. This treatment is to avoid malaria if you suffer from an extremely severe renal disease. To ensure that you are able to safely take Malarone, tell your doctor if you suffer from any of these ailments:

  • Kidney disease.
  • Liver disease.
  • Serious complications of malaria.
  • Insane diarrhea or vomiting.

FDA classification for pregnancy C It isn't known whether Malarone could harm an unborn baby. Consult your physician if you are expecting or planning to have a baby while taking Malarone. It is much more probable to cause the death of a pregnant woman. If you're pregnant, consult your physician about the dangers of traveling to areas where malaria is prevalent. Atovaquone and proguanil may be absorbed into breast milk and cause harm to nursing babies. Do not take Malarone without consulting your physician, whether you are breastfeeding or not. Malarone is not recommended for treating malaria in children who weigh less than eleven pounds and shouldn't be used to treat malaria in children who weigh under 24 pounds.

How to take Malarone?

Take Malarone precisely as directed by your physician. Don't take it in greater or lesser quantities or for longer periods than recommended. Follow the instructions on the label of your prescription. Make sure you take Malarone on a regular basis to keep malaria at bay. If you stop taking the medication too early for any reason, speak to your physician about alternative methods to prevent malaria. Use Malarone with food every day, with meals or drinks that contain milk. In the event that you have a vomiting episode within one hour of taking this medication, take a second dose. If your vomiting continues, call your doctor.

If you're taking this medication to prevent malaria:

  • Begin taking the medicine one or two days prior to arriving in a place where malaria is a common occurrence. Continue to take the medicine throughout your stay and for at least 7 days following your departure from the area.
  • When you cease taking this medication in the early stages due to any reason, consult a medical professional for a different form of malaria treatment.

If you're using this medication to combat malaria:

  • You should take the medicine each day for three days in a row.
  • You should take Malarone for the time period prescribed. Your symptoms may worsen before the infection is fully cleared.

Alongside taking Malarone, make sure you wear protection clothing, insect repellents, and mosquito nets around your bed to stop mosquito bites that could cause malaria. To make sure that Malarone isn't causing any adverse effects, your liver function must be examined regularly with blood tests. Visit your doctor regularly.Get in touch with your doctor as quickly as you can after having had exposure to malaria or if you notice signs of illness after your stay in a location where malaria is a common occurrence. There is no medication that is 100 percent effective in preventing or treating malaria. For the best results, you should continue taking the medication according to the instructions. Discuss with your doctor any nausea, fever, or diarrhea throughout the course of treatment. Keep Malarone within the room at room temperature, away from heat and moisture.

What happens if I miss a dose?

You should take the missed dose as quickly as you can remember. Do not take any missed doses if it's close to the time of the next dose. Don't take additional medicine to make up for the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

For medical emergencies, seek emergency medical attention or contact the Poison Help line toll-free at 1-800-222-1222. The symptoms of an overdose can include stomach pain and vomiting, mouth sores, hair loss, bleeding or bruising, as well as itching on the feet and hands.

What should be avoided?

Follow your doctor's advice regarding any limitations on foods, drinks, or activities.

Side effects of Malarone

Take immediate medical care in the event that you exhibit any of these symptoms that indicate an allergy reaction to Malarone, such as hives, breathing difficulties, or swelling of your lips, face, or tongue. Get your doctor's attention immediately in case you experience severe side effects like:

  • Extreme or uncontrolled vomiting, or diarrhea that is uncontrolled or severe.
  • Fever, mouth sores.
  • Difficulties with speech, balance problems with walking, balance, or speech.
  • Severe skin rash.
  • Nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, and loss of appetite nausea, vomiting, black urine, stools that are clay-colored, jaundice (yellowing of the eyes or skin).
  • Easily bleeding, unusual bruising (nose, mouth, vagina, rectum, or mouth), as well as red or purple areas of skin that are visible.

Less severe Malarone side effects could include:

  • Slight stomach pain or an upset stomach.
  • Mild diarrhea that is mild.
  • Headache.
  • Mild itching.
  • Weakness.
  • Dizzines.

This is not an exhaustive list of all the adverse effects. Other side effects could occur. Consult your physician to seek medical advice on adverse effects. You can report any adverse reactions to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Interaction with other drugs

Discuss with your doctor all other medications you take, particularly:

  • A blood thinner, such as warfarin (Coumadin).
  • Rifabutin (Mycobutin).
  • Rifampin (Rifadin, Rifater, Rifamate, and Rimactane).
  • Tetracycline (Brodspec, Panmycin, Sumycin, Tetracap).
  • Metoclopramide (Reglan).

This list isn't complete, and other drugs could interfere with Malarone. Discuss with your doctor any medication you take. This includes prescriptions, over-the-counter or vitamin products, as well as herbal products. Don't start an entirely new drug without consulting your physician.