Proguanil: functions, dosage, side effects, how to use

Functions & Usage

What is the drug Proguanil used for?

Proguanil is a medicine to prevent malaria, an infection of red blood cells that is transmitted through mosquito bites. Proguanil may be given together with other drugs to prevent malaria infection.

Proguanil belongs to a class of drugs called antimalarials. Proguanil is only available by prescription.

What are the rules for using the drug Proguanil?

Use proguanil as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for precise dosing instructions.

Take proguanil with food or milk. If you vomit within 1 hour of taking a dose, take another dose. Tell your doctor that you will need more medicine to end treatment.

To cure infection, take proguanil for full treatment. Keep taking the medication even if you feel better within a few days.

If you want to prevent malaria, start taking proguanil 1-2 days before going to an area affected by the malaria outbreak and continue taking medication every day while staying in that area and for 7 days after going home.

Take proguanil on a regular schedule for maximum benefits.

Taking proguanil at the same time each day will help you remember to take it.

Do not stop using proguanil without talking to your doctor. If you stop taking proguanil for any reason, you should return to taking proguanil or other drugs to prevent malaria.

If you miss a dose of proguanil, take it as soon as possible. When it is almost time for the next dose, forget about the missed dose and return to a regular dosing schedule. Do not take 2 doses at a time.

Ask a health care provider about using proguanil.

How do I save Proguanil?

Store the medicine at room temperature away from light and moisture. Do not store in the bathroom and freeze medication. Medicines under different brands may have different storage methods. Check the product box for instructions on how to store it, or ask the pharmacist. Stay away from children and pets.

It is forbidden to flush the medicine in the toilet or throw it into the drain if not told to. Properly discard this product if it is past the deadline or is no longer needed. Consult a pharmacist or local waste disposal company for more in-depth details on how to safely dispose of the product.

Precautions & Warnings

What should be considered before using the drug Proguanil?

Before deciding to use this drug, first consider the benefits and risks. This is a decision you will need to make after discussing it with your doctor. For proguanil, the following should be considered:

Allergy

Tell your doctor if you have had any unusual or allergic reactions to proguanil or other medicines. Also, tell your healthcare professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as food, coloring, preservatives, or animals. For over-the-counter products, read labels or packaging materials carefully.

Children

Although there is no specific information comparing the benefits of proguanil in children with benefits in other age groups, proguanil is not considered to cause any different side effects or problems in children than it does in adults. However, children should avoid traveling to areas where there is a chance of suffering from malaria, if they cannot take more effective antimalarial drugs.

Elderly

Many drugs have not been studied, especially in the elderly. For this reason, it may not be known whether they work the same as in young adults or whether they cause different side effects or problems in the elderly. There is no specific information comparing the benefits of proguanil in the elderly with benefits in other age groups.

Is the drug Proguanil safe for pregnant and lactating women?

There are no adequate studies regarding the risks of using this drug in pregnant or breastfeeding women. Always consult your doctor to weigh the potential benefits and risks before using this medication. This medicine is in the risk of pregnancy category C. (There may be some risks).

Side effects

What are the possible side effects of Proguanil?

If the following side effects appear while taking atovaquone / proguanil, consult your doctor or nurse immediately:

• Incident unknown
• The skin blisters, peels, sags
• Shivering
• Convulsions
• Difficulty swallowing
• Fast heart rate
• Red spots
• The skin is increasingly sensitive to sunlight
• Itchy, red or discolored skin
• Joint or muscle pain
• Swelling of the face, eyelids, lips, tongue, throat, hands, feet, genital organs
• Loss of bladder control
• Extreme muscle spasms or jerks
• Swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue
• Rash
• Red, irritated eyes
• Red sores on the skin, often with a purple center
• Seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not visible to the eye
• Drastic mental changes
• Sun burns
• Shortness of breath
• Skin rash
• Pain, ulcers, or white spots in the mouth or on the lips
• Suddenly passed out
• Chest tightness
• Unnaturally tired or weak
• Wheezing sound

Some of the side effects that can occur with atovaquone / proguanil may not require medical attention. As the body adjusts to the drugs during treatment, these side effects may go away. Your healthcare professional may also be able to tell you about ways to reduce or prevent some of these side effects. If the following side effects persist, are bothersome or you have any questions, check with a healthcare professional:

More general

• Stomach ache
• Back pain
• Cough
• Diarrhea
• Delirious
• Fever
• Headache
• Itchy skin
• Reduced or lost energy
• Nausea
• Muscle ache
• Sore throat
• Pain in the mouth
• Sneezing
• Gag

Less often

• Acid in the stomach
• Burping
• Blurred vision or loss of vision
• Color perception is impaired
• Dizzy
• Double vision
• Symptoms similar to flu
• Hello around the light
• Heartburn
• Indigestion
• Loss of appetite
• Blind at night
• Dazzled
• Don't feel sleepy
• Stomach discomfort, cramps, or pain
• Hard to sleep
• Tunnel vision
• Can not sleep
• Losing weight

Rare

• Lost Spirit
• Feeling sad or empty
• Easy to get angry
• Loss of appetite
• Loss of interest or pleasure
• Nervous
• Difficulty concentrating

Not everyone experiences the following side effects. There may be some side effects not listed above. If you have concerns about certain side effects, consult your doctor or pharmacist.

Drug Interactions

What drugs can interfere with the drug Proguanil?

Using this medication with the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this drug or change some of the drugs you take.

• Aurothioglucose

Using this medication with the medicines below is usually not recommended, but may be needed in some cases. If the two drugs are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or the length of time you take one or both drugs.

• Dicumarol
• Warfarin

Using this medication with any of the following medicines may increase your risk of side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If the two drugs are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or the length of time you take one or both drugs.

• Chloroquine
• Typhus vaccine

Can certain foods and drinks interfere with the drug Proguanil?

Certain drugs cannot be used with meals or when eating certain foods because drug interactions can occur. Consuming alcohol or tobacco with certain drugs can also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with a healthcare professional about using drugs with food, alcohol, or tobacco.

Dose

The information provided is not a substitute for a doctor's prescription. ALWAYS consult your doctor or pharmacist before starting treatment.

What is the dose of the drug Proguanil for adults?

Usual adult dosage for malaria

400 mg proguanil (4 strong dose tablets as a single dose) orally once a day for 3 consecutive days.

Usual adult dosage for preventing malaria

Preventive therapy should be started 1–2 days before entering a malaria-affected area and continued daily during stay in that area and for 7 days after discharge.

100 mg proguanil (1 adult strong tablet) orally once a day.

What is the dosage of the drug Procarbazine for children?

Usual children's dosage for malaria

ABW (actual body weight) less than 5 kg: Safety and efficacy have not been confirmed.

ABW 5-8 kg: 50 mg proguanil (2 children's tablets) once daily for 3 consecutive days.

ABW 9-10 kg: 75 mg proguanil (3 children's tablets) once daily for 3 consecutive days.

ABW 11-20 kg: 100 mg proguanil (1 adult tablet or 4 children's tablet once a dose) orally once a day for 3 consecutive days.

ABW 21-30 kg: 200 mg proguanil (2 adult tablets at a time) orally once a day for 3 consecutive days.

ABW 31-40 kg: 300 mg proguanil (3 adult tablets at a time) orally once a day for 3 consecutive days.

ABW over 40 kg: 400 mg proguanil (4 adult tablets at a time) orally once a day for 3 consecutive days.

Usual children's dosage to prevent malaria

Preventive treatment should be started 1-2 days before entering the malaria-infected area and continued daily during the stay in the area and for 7 days after discharge.

ABW 11-20 kg: 25 mg proguanil (1 children's tablet) orally once a day

ABW 21-30 kg: 50 mg proguanil (2 children's tablets at a time) orally once a day

ABW 31-40 kg: 75 mg proguanil (3 children's tablets at a time) orally once a day

ABW over 40 kg: 100 mg proguanil (1 adult tablet) orally once a day.

In what dosages and preparations is Procarbazine available?

100 mg tablet

What to do in an emergency or overdose?

In case of an emergency or overdose, contact the local emergency services provider (118/119) or immediately to the nearest hospital emergency department.

What should I do if I forget to take medicine or forget to take medicine?

If you forget a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, when it is nearing the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose and return to the usual dosing schedule. Don't double the dose.

Hello Health Group does not provide medical consultation, diagnosis or treatment.