Primaquine

When should one not use Primaquine

• If you are allergic to primaquine or any other ingredients of this medicine.
• If you are taking the medicine quinacrine, which can be used in malaria & also as an antibiotic.
• If you have severe glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency.
• If you are taking medicines like dapsone, levodopa.
• If you have rheumatoid arthritis or lupus.
• If you are pregnant.

Common side effects of this drug are:

• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Stomach pain
• Skin rash
• Irregular heartbeats
• Abnormal heart rhythm
• Blood disorder

Other General Warnings

• You have anemia or a family history of anemia.
• You have a blood enzyme deficiency (glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency) or NADH methaemoglobin reductase deficiency.
• You are pregnant or are planning a pregnancy.
• You have blood-related diseases.
• You have heart problems.
• It may cause a condition that affects your heart rhythm.

How Does It Work?

• Malarial parasites enter the body and live in the blood and body tissues.
• Primaquine is used after other medicine is used to kill the malarial parasites living in the blood.
• Primaquine then kills the parasites that are present in the other body tissues, thus preventing relapse of this infection.

Interactions with other medicines

• Primaquine may interact with other medicines, discuss with your doctor about all the medicines, supplements or herbal preparations you are taking. Also, you should inform your doctor if you have a planned surgery or vaccination scheduled.
• Be cautious if you are taking medicines known to cause fast heart rate and to treat irregular heartbeats like quinidine, sotalol, amitriptyline, imipramine, clozapine.

Overdose

• Symptoms of overdose are nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, jaundice, burning discomfort below the ribs, blue, grey colour of the skin, blood disorders, abnormal heart rate, anemia.
• If you experience any of the symptoms or if you think you have taken too much of Primaquine, contact your doctor immediately or visit the nearest hospital.

Missed a Dose

• You should never miss your dose of Primaquine, it may lead to treatment failure.
• If you missed any dose of medicine take it as soon as you remember.
• If it's time for your next dose, then skip the missed dose and continue with your regular dose schedule.
• Do not take a double dose of medicine to compensate for the missed one.