MEFLOQUINE SUMMARY
Mefloquine Hydrochloride
Tablets
Mefloquine hydrochloride is an antimalarial agent available as 250 mg tablets of mefloquine hydrochloride (equivalent to 228 mg of the free base) for oral administration. Mefloquine hydrochloride is a 4-quinolinemethanol derivative with the specific chemical name of (R*,S*)-(±)-α-2- piperidinyI-2,8-bis(trifluoromethyl)-4-quinolinemethanoI hydrochloride. It is a 2-aryl substituted chemical structural analog of quinine. The drug is a white to almost white crystalline compound, slightly soluble in water.
Treatment of Acute Malaria Infections
Mefloquine Hydrochloride Tablets are indicated for the treatment of mild to moderate acute malaria caused by mefloquine-susceptible strains of P. falciparum (both chloroquine-susceptible and resistant strains) or by Plasmodium vivax. There are insufficient clinical data to document the effect of mefloquine in malaria caused by P. ovale or P. malariae.
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Note: Patients with acute P. vivax malaria, treated with mefloquine, are at high risk of relapse because mefloquine does not eliminate exoerythrocytic (hepatic phase) parasites. To avoid relapse, after initial treatment of the acute infection with mefloquine, patients should subsequently be treated with an 8-aminoquinoline derivative (eg, primaquine).
Prevention of Malaria
Mefloquine Hydrochloride Tablets are indicated for the prophylaxis of P. falciparum and P. vivax malaria infections, including prophylaxis of chloroquine-resistant strains of P. falciparum.
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