When Traveling Abroad...
MALARONE FOR MALARIA TREATMENT AND PROPHYLAXIS
(Released October 11, 2000; updated October 27, 2000)
The information contained in this article was obtained
from the Centers for Disease Control
Malarone is a new antimalarial drug approved in the United
States in July 2000 for both treatment and prophylaxis of
malaria.
TREATMENT:
Malarone has been shown to be highly efficacious in the treatment
of uncomplicated malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum,
including malaria that has been acquired in areas with chloroquine
resistant or multi-drug resistant strains. Malarone is available
in adult and pediatric strength forms. The daily dose should
be taken at the same time each day with food or milk.
PROPHYLAXIS:
Malarone has shown good prophylactic efficacy for prevention
of P. falciparum malaria, including those infections acquired
in areas with chloroquine resistant strains. Malarone is now
one of three options (the others are mefloquine or doxycycline)
for prevention of malaria when traveling to areas with chloroquine
resistant P. falciparum malaria.
The adult dosing regimen for prophylaxis with Malarone is
one adult table daily starting one to two days prior to travel,
taken daily during travel and continuing daily for seven days
after leaving the malarious area. The pediatric dosing regimen
for prophylaxis (which also starts one to two days before
travel and continues during travel and for seven days after
leaving the malarious area) is based on weight.
ADVERSE REACTIONS:
The most common adverse effects reported in people using
Malarone for prophylaxis or treatment was abdominal pain,
nausea, vomiting and headache.
PREGNANCY AND BREAST FEEDING:
There are insufficient data regarding the use of Malarone
during pregnancy and breast-feeding for either treatment or
prophylaxis. Therefore, Malarone is not currently recommended
for pregnant women unless the potential benefit outweighs
the potential risk to the fetus.
It is not known whether Malarone is excreted into human milk.
Based on the experience with other antimalarial drugs, the
quantity of drug transferred in breast milk is insufficient
to provide adequate protection against malaria for an infant.
Because data are not yet available on the safety and efficacy
of Malarone in children weighing less than 11 kg, it should
not be given to a woman who breast-feeds an infant who weighs
less than 11 kg unless the potential benefit to the woman
outweighs the potential risk to the infant.
For further questions related to the use of Malarone, the
Centers for Disease Control may be contacted through the Malaria
Hotline at 888-232-3228. Travelers should consult a physician
prior to travel.
Office hours are Monday through Friday:
9:00 a.m. until 12:00 noon and 2:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m.
We accept cash, check, Visa and Mastercard.
C. Michael Lewis, D.O.
G-8195 S. South Saginaw Street
Suite B
Grand Blanc, MI 48439
Phone: (810) 694-5393
Toll Free: 800-966-5393
Fax: (810) 694-5394
|
