PRIMAQUINE Primaquine may be taken with or the form of hemoglobin that cannot without food. You may take primaquine carry oxygen). These effects are related PHOSPHATE with food to avoid an upset stomach. to the amount of primaquine taken and to persons who may already be Other NAMES: Primaquine What should you do if you FORGET a experiencing low red blood cell levels. dose? WHY is this drug prescribed? Rarely, primaquine may cause If you miss a dose of primaquine, take it leukopenia (a decrease in your white Primaquine is an antibiotic used to treat as soon as possible. However, if it is blood cells which are necessary to help different types of infections. time for your next dose, do not double fight bacterial infections). the dose, just carry on with your regular It can be given in combination with schedule. To ensure that you do not develop these clindamycin (Dalacin C) for the adverse effects, it is important that you treatment of Pneumocystis carinii Why should you not forget to take come to your regular blood tests. pneumonia (PCP). This combination is this drug? Please notify your doctor if you develop usually used for people who have the following symptoms: fatigue, experienced adverse effects to sulfa If you miss doses of primaquine, your weakness, shortness of breath, rapid drugs such as trimethoprim- infection may continue or worsen. In heartbeat, dark– coloured urine, fever sulfamethoxazole (TMP/SMX, such a situation, you may need to take or chills . Bactrim , Septra ) or dapsone. This other drugs. Therefore, it is extremely combination is a safe and effective important that you take primaquine for It is important that you keep your alternative. the entire duration of the treatment. doctor appointments and come for your laboratory tests so that your It can also be given for the treatment of What ADVERSE EFFECTS can this progress can be followed. parasitic infections such as malaria. drug cause? What should you do about them? What other PRECAUTIONS should HOW should this drug be taken? you follow while using this drug? Primaquine is generally well tolerated. Primaquine is available as 15 mg Occasionally, this drug may cause Before starting primaquine, it is tablets. For the treatment of PCP, the nausea, vomiting, upset stomach, important to inform your doctor if you usual recommended dose is 15 to 30 loss of appetite, and abdominal have or have had in the past any mg once daily for 21 days. cramps . If these symptoms appear and allergies to primaquine, blood disorders, are bothersome, please inform your lupus (systemic lupus erythematosis – Your dosage is: doctor or pharmacist. SLE), or rheumatoid arthritis.