Health Dictionary
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Pamaquine
Introduction
Pamaquine is an 8-aminoquinoline drug used for the treatment of malaria. It is closely related to primaquine.
History
History
Pamaquine was the first synthetic antimalarial drug.
Adverse effects
Adverse effects
Like primaquine, pamaquine causes haemolytic anaemia in patients with G6PD deficiency. Patients should therefore always be screened for G6PD deficiency prior to being prescribed pamaquine.
Uses
Uses
Pamaquine is effective against the hypnozoites of the relapsing malarias (P. vivax and P. ovale); and unlike primaquine, it is also very effective against the erythrocytic stages of all four human malarias. One small clinical trial of pamaquine as a causal prophylactic was disappointing[1] (whereas primaquine is an extremely effective causal prophylactic).
Dosing
Dosing
60Â mg once daily for 14â21 days.
When treating Plasmodium vivax, an initial course of chloroquine is unnecessary.
Synonyms
Synonyms
- Plasmaquine
References
References
- â Sweeney AW, Blackburn CRB, KH Rieckmann. (2004). “Short report: The activity of pamaquine, an 8-aminoquinoline drug, against sporozoite-induced infections of Plasmodium vivax (New Guinea strains)”. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 71 (2): 187â189.