Atovaquone/Proguanil

About Atovaquone/Proguanil

Atovaquone/Proguanil is classed as an antimalarial medication. It contains a combination of atovaquone and proguanil hydrochloride as the active ingredients. It is commonly prescribed to treat malaria. It works by interfering with the growth of malaria parasites in red blood cells in the body. The parasites normally enter your body through mosquito bites. Malaria is common in Africa, Southern Asia, and South America.

NowPatient offers Atovaquone/Proguanil tablets or Malarone tablets for the prevention of malaria only, following an online consultation with a prescribing clinician.

Key facts of Atovaquone/Proguanil

• For the treatment of Malaria
• Start taking Atovaquone/Proguanil malaria tablets 1 or 2 days before entering a malaria risk area and continue taking it every day while in the malaria zone and for 7 days after you leave
• Atovaquone/Proguanil has some common side effects which include mild stomach pain, mild diarrhea, headache, and dizziness
• It can be dangerous if you take Atovaquone/Proguanil with certain medications like warfarin, rifabutin, rifampicin, tetracycline, or metoclopramide. If you’re not sure if it is safe, discuss this with the prescribing clinician

Who is Atovaquone/Proguanil suitable for?

Atovaquone/Proguanil is suitable for adults and children travelling to parts of the world where malaria is common.

Who is Atovaquone/Proguanil not suitable for?

Atovaquone/Proguanil may not be suitable for some people. To make sure it’s safe for you, speak to the prescribing clinician before taking Atovaquone/Proguanil if you:

• Have severe kidney disease
• Have liver disease
• Have uncontrolled vomiting or diarrhea
• Are taking etoposide, metoclopramide, tetracycline, rifampicin or rifabutin, HIV medications (efavirenz, zidovudine, protease inhibitors), or warfarin
• Have severe complications from malaria
• Are pregnant or breastfeeding

How and where to get Atovaquone/Proguanil?

You can buy Atovaquone/Proguanil safely and securely from NowPatient. You can start a consultation today for free and if you qualify for treatment, you only pay for the cost of the medication. Delivery is made to your home or office from our registered pharmacy.

Our service is certified, safe and effective, and we only ever treat conditions. If you book a consultation with a prescribing clinician for the treatment of malaria, you can discuss if Atovaquone/Proguanil is a suitable treatment option for you.

At the end of the consultation, the clinician will decide if a treatment plan is suitable for you. If it is, the clinician will issue you with a prescription which can then be ordered, paid for and delivered directly to your chosen address by NowPatient.

Dosage and strength for Atovaquone/Proguanil for malaria

Atovaquone/Proguanil is available as tablets when used for malaria. It is available as proguanil 25 mg/ atovaquone 62.5 mg and proguanil 100 mg/ atovaquone 250 mg.

Information about how to take Atovaquone/Proguanil for malaria

Take Atovaquone/Proguanil tablets at the same time every day, with food or a milky drink. If you are sick (vomit) within 1 hour after taking Atovaquone/Proguanil, take another dose.

If you are taking Atovaquone/Proguanil for the prevention of malaria start taking it 1 or 2 days before entering the malaria area and continue taking it every day while in the malaria zone and for 7 days after you leave. If you are unable to take Atovaquone/Proguanil and stop taking it early, contact a healthcare professional for another form of malaria prevention.

You should also make sure you read the patient information leaflet (PIL) provided to you with your medication.

What happens if you take too much Atovaquone/Proguanil?

If you take more than prescribed, then it can lead to some unpleasant side effects.

You should talk to your doctor or reach out to one of our prescribing clinicians, if you have taken too much Atovaquone/Proguanil and you experience any adverse effects.

What are the side effects of Atovaquone/Proguanil?

Possible side effects of Atovaquone/Proguanil are split into common and serious.

Common side effects include:

• Mild stomach pain and upset stomach
• Diarrhea
• Headache and dizziness
• Itching
• Feeling weak

Serious side effects include:

• Uncontrolled vomiting or diarrhoea
• Mouth sores
• Fever
• Severe skin rash
• Abdominal pain, loss of appetite, darker urine, yellowing of the eyes or skin
• Easily bruised, or unusual bleeding

If you experience any serious side effects, you should contact NHS 111.

If you experience a serious allergic reaction with the signs shown below you should contact emergency services on 999.

• Your lips, mouth, throat or tongue suddenly become swollen
• You’re breathing very fast or struggling to breathe (you may become very wheezy or feel like you’re choking or gasping for air)
• Your throat feels tight or you’re struggling to swallow
• Your skin, tongue or lips turn blue, grey or pale (if you have black or brown skin, this may be easier to see on the palms of your hands or soles of your feet)
• You suddenly become very confused, drowsy or dizzy
• Someone faints and cannot be woken up

Information about taking Atovaquone/Proguanil at the same time as other medications or herbal supplements

There is not enough evidence to suggest there are any drug interactions between herbal supplements and Atovaquone/Proguanil. In any event, you should let your prescribing clinician know if you are taking any herbal supplements or any other over-the-counter medicines.

Is there a herbal Atovaquone/Proguanil?

No. Herbal Atovaquone/Proguanil does not exist. If you have been marketed such a formulation, it may be fake. Also, it has not been proven that garlic or vitamin B are effective mosquito repellents. Citronella, however, has been shown to repel mosquitoes, but requires applying every 30 minutes which may be impractical.

Should I avoid any particular food or drink when taking Atovaquone/Proguanil?

You can eat and drink normally when taking Atovaquone/Proguanil. You are advised to take Atovaquone/Proguanil with food or a milky drink.

What else can I do to help prevent malaria?

It is important to prevent mosquito bites to reduce the risk of getting malaria. Precautions include:

• Using insect repellents containing DEET
• Wearing long-sleeved clothes, especially when mosquitos are most active during dusk and dawn
• Sleep under mosquito nets impregnated with insecticide
• Keep away from ponds, lakes, puddles, storm drains or wells, where mosquitos like to lay their eggs

Alternatives to Atovaquone/Proguanil

Alternative antimalarial drugs include doxycycline, chloroquine, and mefloquine (Lariam).

Sources

• Malarone: Uses, Dosage & Side Effects – Drugs.com
• Atovaquone/Proguanil – Fit for Travel