Skip Ribbon Commands
Skip to main content
Menu

Atovaquone/Proguanil

Drug Class: Commonly Known As: Category:
Antimalarial Malarone Adult, Children

Atovaquone/Proguanil - Side Effects, Precautions, and Contraindications

What side effects can Atovaquone/Proguanil cause?

  • ​You may experience nausea, vomiting, stomach pain and diarrhea.
    • Take the medication after food to reduce gastric side effects.
    • If you vomit within 1 hour of taking the medication, repeat the dose.
  • You may experience headache and insomnia.
    • You should continue taking the medication unless you are unable to tolerate the side effects.
  • You may experience dizziness while on this medication.
    • If affected, do not drive, operate machinery or do work that requires you to be alert.

Rare but severe side effects include:

  • Severe skin reactions
    • Skin rash, which may blister and looks like small targets (central dark spots, surrounded by paler area with a dark ring around the edge) (erythema multiforme).
    • Severe widespread rash with blisters and peeling skin, particularly occurring around the mouth, nose, eyes and genitals (Stevens-Johnson syndrome).
  • Liver problems
    • Symptoms include dark urine or light coloured stools, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, stomach pain, yellowing of your eyes or skin.
  • Anemia
    • A condition where you do not have enough red blood cells.
    • May present with worsening tiredness, rapid breathing, pale skin/lips/nails, fast heartbeat while resting.
  • Severe infection
    • May present with high fever, severe chills, body aches, sore throat.
  • Drug allergy (symptoms include one or more of the following)
    • Swollen face/eyes/lips/tongue.
    • Difficulty in breathing.
    • Itchy skin rashes over your whole body.

If you experience any of these symptoms, you should stop your medication and see your healthcare professional immediately.

Before taking Atovaquone/Proguanil , what precautions must I follow?

​Inform your healthcare professional if:

  • You are allergic to Atovaquone, Proguanil hydrochloride or any of the other ingredients of this medication.
  • You are pregnant or breast-feeding. Avoid pregnancy and use contraceptives while taking this medication and for 2 weeks after the last dose.
  • You are taking any other medications, including supplements, traditional medications and herbal remedies.
  • You have a history of kidney problems, liver problems, seizures (epilepsy or convulsions) or depression.
  • You have tuberculosis.

What food or medicine must I avoid when I take Atovaquone/Proguanil ?

​Inform your pharmacist or doctor if you are taking any of the medications below:

  • Tetracycline (antibiotic)
  • Metoclopramide (medication to treat nausea or vomiting)
  • Rifampin or Rifabutin (antibiotic)
  • Etoposide (medication to treat cancer)
  • Efavirenz, Zidovudine, Indinavir (medication to treat HIV)
  • Warfarin, Dabigatran, Apixaban or Rivaroxaban (oral anticoagulants)

This is not a complete list of all possible drug interactions with this medication. Check with your healthcare professional if you are unsure.

Atovaquone/Proguanil - Additional Information

To prevent malaria, you may protect yourself against mosquito bites by:

  • Wearing long-sleeved clothing and long trousers between sunset and sunrise.
  • Applying insect repellent containing more than 20% DEET (N-Diethyl-meta-toluamide) for adults or 10% and less DEET for children on exposed skin. DEET is a common active ingredient in mosquito repellents.
  • Using mosquito coils in the room at night.
  • Sleep with mosquito nets around your bed, with the net edges tucked under the bed or sleep in a screened room.
  • Spray insecticide where mosquitos may rest. Mosquito larvae survive well in clear, slow-flowing streams.
  • Avoid going to an area where malaria is common.

Following these guidelines and medication does not mean that you will not get malaria. If you have a fever or experience chills between 1 week and up to 1 year after your return, you should seek medical attention. Inform the doctor that you have been to a country where malaria is common. Malaria can be effectively treated if discovered early. A delay in treatment may result in serious health problems.

  • Updated on 9/30/2019 12:00:00 AM
  • Article contributed by PSS National Medication Information Workgroup PSS National Medication Information Workgroup
The information provided is not intended as medical advice. Terms of use. Information provided by SingHealth

Find Your Medicines