Although eradicated in the United States, malaria is a serious health concern globally, with more than 700,000 deaths worldwide in 2008. Nearly 90 percent of those were in Africa, according to the World Health Organization. Antimalarial medications such as Malarone are important in treating malaria and in preventing infection of travelers going to malaria-prone areas.
Indications
Malarone is a fixed-dose combination of two antimalarial medications, atovaquone and proguanil. As a prophylaxis, or measure taken for disease prevention, Malarone is useful for individuals in malaria-prone areas, including those who have exhibited resistance to other anti-malaria drugs. Malarone is also used to treat individuals diagnosed with acute, uncomplicated malaria and is effective when other antimalarial drugs have been ineffective, according to GlaxoSmithKline.
Side Effects
Malarone can cause unwanted side effects. Higher doses, such as those used for treatment rather than prevention, increase this chance. Individuals should call a doctor if they experience serious side effects such as an allergic reaction, high fever, uncontrolled vomiting and diarrhea, urinary or skin color changes or sores of the mouth. Less serious side effects include dizziness and weakness, itching, coughing and headache. They often go away on their own once the body adjusts to the medication, according to Drugs.com.
Dosage and Administration
Malarone has specific dosage and administration guidelines depending on prophylactic or treatment use. For malaria prevention, adults should take one tablet per day with food for 24 to 48 hours before entering a malaria-prone area, during the entire visit and for seven days upon returning. For treatment purposes, adults should take four tablets as a single dose for three consecutive days, according to GlaxoSmithKline. Dosing guidelines for children are weight-dependent but follow the same schedule as adult doses for prevention and treatment.
Warning
Individuals allergic to atovaquone or proguanil should not take Malarone, nor should those with severe kidney disease. GlaxoSmithKline recommends that people with kidney or liver disease, current uncontrolled vomiting and diarrhea, severe malaria complications or seizures speak with a doctor before taking Malarone for treatment and prevention purposes. Certain drugs have been shown to interact with Malarone, such as blood thinners, certain tuberculosis medications and the antibiotic tetracycline. Speak with a doctor or pharmacist for more information on drug interactions, as other drugs also may interact with Malarone.
How It Works
Malaria is caused by a specific type of parasite known as Plasmodium, with the most serious forms being cause by Plasmodium falciparum. Infection occurs when a Plasmodium-carrying mosquito injects the parasite into the bloodstream after a bite. The parasite breeds and reproduces, leading to widespread infection. Proguanil and atovaquone both work by targeting and blocking specific steps needed for the parasite to reproduce, according to GlaxoSmithKline.
