Primaquine

Primaquine is used alone or with another medication to treat malaria (a serious infection that is spread by mosquitoes in certain parts of the world and can cause death) and to prevent the disease from coming back in people that are infected with malaria. Primaquine is in a class of medications called antimalarials. It works by killing the organisms that cause malaria.

Primaquine comes as a tablet to take by mouth. It is usually taken once a day for 14 days. Take primaquine at around the same time every day. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take primaquine exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often or for a longer period of time than prescribed by your doctor. Take primaquine until you finish the prescription, even if you feel better. If you stop taking primaquine too soon or skip doses, your infection may not be completely treated.

<p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p>Primaquine may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:
<ul>
<li>
nausea</li>
<li>
vomiting</li>
<li>
heartburn</li>
<li>
abdominal cramps</li></ul></p> <p></p> <p>Some side effects can be serious. If you experience any of these symptoms, call your doctor immediately:
<ul>
<li>
tiredness</li>
<li>
pale skin</li>
<li>
shortness of breath</li>
<li>
fast heartbeat</li>
<li>
yellowing of the skin or eyes</li>
<li>
dark colored urine</li>
<li>
headache</li>
<li>
lack of energy</li>
<li>
grey-bluish color of lips and/or skin</li>
<li>
nervousness</li>
<li>
seizure</li>
<li>
weak pulse</li>
<li>
confusion</li>
<li>
sore throat, fever, cough, or other signs of infection</li>
<li>
fainting</li>
<li>
dizziness</li>
<li>
blurred vision</li></ul>Primaquine may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while taking this medication.</p>

Before taking primaquine, tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to primaquine, any other medications, or any of the ingredients in primaquine tablets. Ask your pharmacist for a list of the ingredients. tell your doctor if you are taking penicillin; cephalosporins such as cephalexin (Keflex), cefaclor, cefuroxime (Ceftin), cefdinir (Omnicef), or cefpodoxime (Vantin); levodopa (in Sinemet); medications to treat cancer;methyldopa (Aldomet); or quinidine. Your doctor will probably tell you not to take primaquine. Also do not take primaquine if you are taking or have recently taken quinacrine (not available in the US). tell your doctor and pharmacist what other prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or plan to take. tell your doctor if you have or have ever had rheumatoid arthritis, hemolytic anemia (a condition with an abnormally low number of red blood cells), lupus erythematosus (a disease that occurs when the body's tissues are attacked by antibodies from its own immune system), methemoglobinemia (a condition with defective red blood cells that are unable to carry oxygen to the tissues in the body),nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) deficiency (a genetic condition), glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency (a genetic condition), or if you or someone in your family has had a reaction after eating fava beans.

In case of overdose, call your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. If the victim has collapsed or is not breathing, call local emergency services at 911. Symptoms of overdose may include:
<ul>
<li>
abdominal cramps</li>
<li>
vomiting</li>
<li>
heartburn</li>
<li>
grey-bluish color of lips and/or skin</li>
<li>
headache</li>
<li>
lack of energy</li>
<li>
nervousness</li>
<li>
seizure</li>
<li>
weak pulse</li>
<li>
confusion</li>
<li>
fainting</li>
<li>
dizziness</li>
<li>
blurred vision</li></ul>