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Primaquine (Primaquine Phosphate) - Summary

 
 



WARNING: PHYSICIANS SHOULD COMPLETELY FAMILIARIZE THEMSELVES WITH THE COMPLETE CONTENTS OF THIS LEAFLET BEFORE PRESCRIBING PRIMAQUINE PHOSPHATE.

 

PRIMAQUINE SUMMARY

Primaquine phosphate is 8-[(4-Amino-1-methylbutyl)amino]-6-methoxyquinoline phosphate, a synthetic compound with potent antimalarial activity. Each tablet contains 26.3 mg of Primaquine phosphate (equivalent to 15 mg of primaquine base). The dosage is customarily expressed in terms of the base.

Primaquine phosphate is indicated for the radical cure (prevention of relapse) of vivax malaria.


See all Primaquine indications & dosage >>

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

Published Studies Related to Primaquine

Single dose primaquine for clearance of Plasmodium falciparum gametocytes in children with uncomplicated malaria in Uganda: a randomised, controlled, double-blind, dose-ranging trial. [2014]
gametocyte clearance and for safety in P falciparum malaria... INTERPRETATION: We conclude that 0.4 mg/kg primaquine has similar gametocytocidal

Directly-observed therapy (DOT) for the radical 14-day primaquine treatment of Plasmodium vivax malaria on the Thai-Myanmar border. [2010.11.01]
BACKGROUND: Plasmodium vivax has a dormant hepatic stage, called the hypnozoite, which can cause relapse months after the initial attack. For 50 years, primaquine has been used as a hypnozoitocide to radically cure P. vivax infection, but major concerns remain regarding the side-effects of the drug and adherence to the 14-day regimen. This study examined the effectiveness of using the directly-observed therapy (DOT) method for the radical treatment of P. vivax malaria infection, to prevent reappearance of the parasite within the 90-day follow-up period. Other potential risk factors for the reappearance of P. vivax were also explored... CONCLUSIONS: Adherence to the 14-day primaquine regimen is important for the radical cure of P. vivax malaria infection. Implementation of DOT reduces the reappearance rate of the parasite, and may subsequently decrease P. vivax transmission in the area.

In Tanzania, hemolysis after a single dose of primaquine coadministered with an artemisinin is not restricted to glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase-deficient (G6PD A-) individuals. [2010.05]
The current interest in malaria elimination has led to a renewed interest in drugs that can be used for mass administration to minimize malaria transmission. Primaquine (PQ) is the only generally available drug with a strong activity against mature Plasmodium falciparum gametocytes, the parasite stage responsible for transmission...

A comparison of two short-course primaquine regimens for the treatment and radical cure of Plasmodium vivax malaria in Thailand. [2010.04]
Thai adult males (N = 85) with acute Plasmodium vivax malaria and normal glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase screening were randomized to receive 30 mg or 60 mg primaquine daily for 7 days (N = 43 and 42, respectively). The regimens were well tolerated and all patients recovered fully... A 1 week course of primaquine 60 mg daily is an effective treatment of vivax malaria in this region.

Therapeutic efficacy of chloroquine and chloroquine plus primaquine for the treatment of Plasmodium vivax in Ethiopia. [2010.02]
Plasmodium vivax is the second most important cause of morbidity in Ethiopia. There is, however, little information on P.

more studies >>

Clinical Trials Related to Primaquine

Primaquine Pharmacokinetics in Lactating Women and Their Infants [Recruiting]
The weight of malaria falls most heavily on young children and pregnant women but studies of the safety of antimalarials in pregnancy and lactation are few. The only recommended medication used for radical treatment of P. vivax is primaquine. The 2010 WHO malaria guidelines recommend its use in all patients with P. vivax infection in areas of low transmission, in the absence of contraindications. Primaquine is contraindicated in pregnancy. The postpartum period presents a key opportunity to definitively treat women who suffer multiple malaria relapses during pregnancy. The 2010 WHO malaria treatment guidelines allow for primaquine use during lactation but there are no studies to date quantifying primaquine excretion in breast milk and the dose that breastfed infants would be exposed to is unknown. The investigators propose to study the pharmacokinetics of primaquine in maternal and infant plasma and in breast milk during a 14 day radical treatment of P. vivax. Some inferences about the expected behavior of primaquine in lactation can be drawn from its known pharmacologic properties. Primaquine pharmacokinetics have been well characterized in healthy subjects and malaria patients after single and multiple oral dosing. Peak concentrations are reached within 2-3 hours after dosing and the plasma elimination half-life is ~7 hours. It is extensively distributed in the tissue and largely metabolized to inert carboxyprimaquine, the major plasma metabolite, which undergoes further biotransformation to unknown metabolites that are probably more toxic than the parent compound. The identification of other metabolites in humans has been difficult to pursue because the expected aminophenol metabolites are unstable. No pharmacokinetic studies have been done to measure primaquine excretion in breast milk. A few studies have been done of other antimalarials during lactation and have shown low levels of drug in breast milk during treatment.

Evaluation of the Gametocytocidal Efficacy and Safety of Primaquine in Uncomplicated Falciparum Malaria in Uganda [Completed]
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of lower doses of primaquine compared to the dose recommended by the WHO for reducing P. falciparum gametocytes in the infected human host to prevent transmission of falciparum malaria to the anopheles mosquito vector.

Safety and Tolerability of Low Dose Primaquine [Recruiting]
In Cambodia, falciparum is becoming more difficult to treat because drugs are becoming less effective. The investigators can help to try to prevent the spread of this resistant malaria by adding a drug that will make it more difficult for the mosquito to drink up the malaria in people's blood. If the mosquito cannot drink up the malaria, then the malaria cannot develop in the mosquito so it will not be able to inject malaria back into people when it bites. The drug the investigators will use is called primaquine. Primaquine commonly causes the red cells in the blood to break apart if they are weak. Red cells need enzymes to work properly and weak red cells have low amounts of an enzyme called glucose 6 phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD). The investigators want to know if treating malaria with primaquine will be safe for the red cells. To do this study, the investigators need to know if a subject has low G6PD or not.

Pharmacokinetic and in Vitro Transmission Blocking Activities Study of Primaquine Compare to Methylene Blue in Healthy Volunteer Both G6PD Normal and G6PD Deficiency [Recruiting]
The emergence of partial artemisinin resistance in Plasmodium falciparum on the Cambodia-Thai border and more recently on the Myanmar-Thai border jeopardizes the renewed global efforts of control and elimination of malaria. Containment of this severe threat requires reduction of transmission of the resistant phenotype by adding gametocytocidal drugs to the treatment of falciparum malaria. Mathematical models also predict that transmission blocking will be required if the goal of malaria elimination is to be achieved. The only drug currently available with strong gametocytocidal properties against the more mature gametocytes is primaquine. However, the oxidative properties of primaquine readily causes acute haemolysis in glucose 6 phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency, the degree of which appears to be inversely related to G6PD enzyme activity. Because of these safety concerns, primaquine is not widely deployed in treatment regimens for falciparum malaria, even in areas with documented artemisinin resistance. Methylene blue, which does not exert its action through an oxidative mechanism, is a promising alternative as a gametocytocidal adjuvant to artemisinin combination therapies (ACTs). Paul Ehrlich discovered methylene blue as the first synthetic drug ever to treat malaria. In contrast with primaquine, the thiazine dye methylene blue asserts its properties as an oxidizing agent only at very high doses, whereas at pharmacologic doses it has reducing agent properties and is for this reason used as a medication for the treatment of methemoglobinemia. A recent laboratory study identified methylene blue as a potent inhibitor of gametocyte development across all stages, almost fully abolishing P. falciparum transmission to mosquitoes at concentrations readily achievable in humans. In addition, a recent clinical study in 180 children with uncomplicated falciparum malaria in Burkina Faso showed that, compared to artesunate-amodiaquine alone, addition of the cheap drug methylene blue to either artesunate or amodiaquine importantly reduced gametocyte carrier rates measured at days 3, 7, and 14 of follow-up. This effect was seen both in patients with and without P. falciparum gametocytaemia at baseline. The current series of studies will investigate further methylene blue as a potential gametocytocidal drug in the treatment of uncomplicated falciparum malaria.

Pharmacokinetic Study of Primaquine and Pyronaridine-Artesunate in Healthy Subjects [Completed]
The observed changes of P. falciparum sensitivity to artemisinin lead to the intensification of early detection as well as treatment monitoring in malaria infection. It is widely accepted that the development of resistance can be delayed by the use of combination therapy, especially combinations that include artemisinin derivatives (acts). As the resistance problem is considered extremely serious; as a consequence, who has recommended that all monotherapy for malaria should be stopped. Current WHO guidelines recommend that the drug combination regimens using ACT with effective partner medicines should be used to decrease the risk of development or spreading of artemisinin resistance.

more trials >>


Page last updated: 2014-11-30

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