Drug reference

Primaquine

BNF 80 (2020–2021)

Source: BNF 80 (2020–2021)
PDF pages: 676

Review source pages for extracted sections and age labels. BNF dose snippets show only their first line.

Overview

Indications And Dose

Adjunct in the treatment of non-falciparum malaria caused by P.vivax infection ▶BY MOUTH ▶Adult: 30 mg daily for 14 days Adjunct in the treatment of non-falciparum malaria caused by P.ovale infection ▶BY MOUTH ▶Adult: 15 mg daily for 14 days Adjunct in the treatment of non-falciparum malaria caused by P.vivax infection in patients with mild G6PD deficiency (administered on expert advice) | Adjunct in the treatment of non-falciparum malaria caused by P.ovale infection in patients with mild G6PD deficiency (administered on expert advice) ▶BY MOUTH ▶Adult: 45 mg once weekly for 8 weeks Treatment of mild to moderate pneumocystis infection (in combination with clindamycin) ▶BY MOUTH ▶Adult: 30 mg daily, this combination is associated with considerable toxicity l UNLICENSED USE Not licensed.

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Cautions

G6PD deﬁciency. systemic diseases associated with granulocytopenia (e.g. juvenile idiopathic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus erythematosus)

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Pre Treatment Screening

Before starting primaquine, blood should be tested for glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) activity since the drug can cause haemolysis in G6PD-deﬁcient patients. Specialist advice should be obtained in G6PD deﬁciency.

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Safety

Interactions

→Appendix 1: antimalarials

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Side Effects

Arrhythmia. dizziness. gastrointestinal discomfort. haemolytic anaemia (in G6PD deﬁciency). leucopenia. methaemoglobinaemia (in NADH methaemoglobin reductase deﬁciency). nausea. QT interval prolongation. skin reactions. vomiting

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Pregnancy

Risk of neonatal haemolysis and methaemoglobinaemia in third trimester.

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Breast Feeding

No information available; theoretical risk of haemolysis in G6PD-deﬁcient infants.

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Dose and formulations

Medicinal Forms

There can be variation in the licensing of different medicines containing the same drug. Forms available from special-order manufacturers include: oral suspension Tablet ▶Primaquine (Non-proprietary) Primaquine (as Primaquine phosphate) 7.5 mg Primaquine 7.5mg tablets | 100 tablet £199.70 Primaquine (as Primaquine phosphate) 15 mg Primaquine 15mg tablets | 100 tablet P s

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Dose text by age group

Adult

30 mg daily for 14 days

First-line fragment. Read the complete Indications and Dose section above.

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Adult

15 mg daily for 14 days

First-line fragment. Read the complete Indications and Dose section above.

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Adult

45 mg once weekly for 8 weeks

First-line fragment. Read the complete Indications and Dose section above.

PDF page 676

Adult

30 mg daily, this combination is associated with

First-line fragment. Read the complete Indications and Dose section above.

PDF page 676

Age labels are extracted for navigation. Check the complete source section and current local guidance before clinical use.

Drug reference

Primaquine

BNF 80 (2020–2021)

Source: BNF 80 (2020–2021)
PDF pages: 676

Review source pages for extracted sections and age labels. BNF dose snippets show only their first line.

Overview

Indications And Dose

PDF page 676

Cautions

G6PD deﬁciency. systemic diseases associated with granulocytopenia (e.g. juvenile idiopathic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus erythematosus)

PDF page 676

Pre Treatment Screening

PDF page 676

Safety

Interactions

→Appendix 1: antimalarials

PDF page 676

Side Effects

PDF page 676

Pregnancy

Risk of neonatal haemolysis and methaemoglobinaemia in third trimester.

PDF page 676

Breast Feeding

No information available; theoretical risk of haemolysis in G6PD-deﬁcient infants.

PDF page 676

Dose and formulations

Medicinal Forms

PDF page 676

Dose text by age group

Adult

30 mg daily for 14 days

First-line fragment. Read the complete Indications and Dose section above.

PDF page 676

Adult

15 mg daily for 14 days

First-line fragment. Read the complete Indications and Dose section above.

PDF page 676

Adult

45 mg once weekly for 8 weeks

First-line fragment. Read the complete Indications and Dose section above.

PDF page 676

Adult

30 mg daily, this combination is associated with

First-line fragment. Read the complete Indications and Dose section above.

PDF page 676

Age labels are extracted for navigation. Check the complete source section and current local guidance before clinical use.