Atovaquone/Proguanil

Description

Atovaquone with proguanil hydrochloride is an antimalarial combination. The two medicines act together on the malaria parasite, and the combination is used to prevent falciparum malaria in travellers and to treat acute uncomplicated falciparum malaria. For prevention, an adult takes one tablet daily at about the same time each day, starting one or two days before entering the malaria area, continuing every day while there, and continuing for seven days after leaving.

Take each tablet with food or a milky drink, which helps the atovaquone to be absorbed, and take another tablet if you are sick within an hour of a dose. No antimalarial gives complete protection, so bite avoidance matters as much as the tablets: cover up after dusk, use repellent and sleep under a treated net. Tell your prescriber if you have kidney problems, if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you take warfarin, rifampicin, metoclopramide or tetracycline. Any fever during or after travel needs urgent medical assessment.

• Antimalarial combining atovaquone 250mg with proguanil 100mg
• For prevention of falciparum malaria in travellers
• One tablet daily with food or a milky drink, at the same time each day
• Start 1 to 2 days before travel and continue 7 days after leaving
• Bite avoidance is still needed; no tablet gives full protection
• Any fever during or after travel needs urgent assessment