Introduction
Kanaprim is an antiparasitic medicine, used for the prevention and treatment of malaria. It works by killing malaria causing parasite and stops the infection from spreading.
Kanaprim should be used in the dose and duration as advised by your doctor. Take it with food to decrease the risk of stomach upset. Do not skip any doses and finish the full course of treatment even if you feel better. Stopping it early can result in treatment failure and increase the side effects too. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed dose. Simply take the next dose as planned.
Take measures to reduce the chance of being bitten by mosquitoes like using insect repellent creams on parts of your body, not covered by clothing. Spray mosquito repellent to kill any mosquitoes that may have entered rooms in spite of screening. Wear light-colored and covered clothing when you are outside after sunset.
Some people may have a rash, headache, vomiting, and dizziness, as side effects of this medicine. Please consult your doctor if these side effects persist for a longer duration. Inform your doctor if you have diabetes as it can lower the sugar levels in the blood. If you are diabetic, you should monitor your blood sugar regularly. It may cause blurring of vision. Therefore, regular eye examinations are recommended while on treatment with this medicine.
When used long term, your doctor may monitor the amounts of the different types of blood cells in your blood regularly. Inform your doctor if you have unexplained bruising or bleeding, sore throat, fever, or a general feeling of tiredness.
Side effects of Kanaprim
Common
- Rash
- Vomiting
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Hives
- Stomach pain
- Nausea
- Abdominal pain
- Itching
- Heartburn
- Gastrointestinal discomfort
- Upper abdominal pain
How to use Kanaprim
Take this medicine in the dose and duration as advised by your doctor. Swallow it as a whole. Do not chew, crush or break it. Kanaprim is to be taken with food.
How Kanaprim works
Kanaprim is a an antiparasitic medication which treats malaria. It works by increasing the levels of haeme in the blood, a substance toxic to the malarial parasite. This kills the parasite and stops the infection from spreading.
Administration
Should be taken with food. Take w/ meals to avoid GI discomfort.
Adult Dose
Oral
Prevention of relapse of P. vivax malaria
30 mg PO qDay for 14 days
Uncomplicated P. vivax and P. ovale malaria
30 mg PO qDay for 14 days with chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine
Alternatively, for mild G6PD deficiency or as alternative to daily regimen: 45 mg PO qDay for 8 weeks (only to be used after consultation with an infectious disease/tropical medicine expert
Chemoprophylaxis
P. vivax and P. ovale maleria: 30 mg PO qDay for 14 days after departure from malaria-endemic area
Child Dose
Oral
Uncomplicated P. vivax and P. ovale malaria
0.5 mg/kg (30 mg/day maximum) qDay for 14 days with chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine
Chemoprophylaxis
0.5 mg/kg PO qDay (30 mg/day maximum); start 1-2 days prior to travel and continue for 7 days after departure from malaria endemic area
Contraindication
Hypersensitivity. Childn <1 yr. Acute flare-ups of systemic diseases (RA, SLE) having tendency for agranulocytopaenia, Pregnancy and lactation.
Mode of Action
Primaquine is an 8-aminoquinoline antimalarial which eliminates the exoerythrocytic forms of malarial parasite P.vivax, P. falciparum by disrupting mitochondria and binding to DNA. By this action primaquine achieves radical cure of vivax malaria. It is also active against gametocytes of P.falciparum.
Precaution
G6PD deficiency; pregnancy; NADH methaemoglobin reductase deficient patients. Monitor Hb levels and blood counts routinely. Patients with systemic diseases that have an increased risk of granulocytopenia. Withdraw treatment if signs of haemolysis or methaemogloinaemia occur.
Side Effect
>10%
Abdominal pain,Hemolytic anemia in G6PD deficiency,Nausea,Vomiting
<1-10%
Methemoglobinemia in NADH-methemoglobin reductase-deficient individuals
<1%
Agranulocytosis,Arrhythmias,Headache,Interference with visual accommodation,Leukopenia,Leukocytosis,Rash,Dizziness,Pruritus
Potentially Fatal: Haemolytic anaemia (G6PD deficient), thrombocytopaenia, leucopaenia, AV block.
Interaction
Primaquine may inhibit metabolism of chloroquine. Avoid ethanol.
Potentially Fatal: Mepacrine may potentiate toxicity of primaquine. Potentially haemolytic drugs eg, sulphonamides, nitrofurans and bone marrow suppressants eg, methotrexate, phenylbutazone, chloramphenicol should not be co-admin with primaquine.