Proguanil
About
Proguanil is an antimalarial medicine used in the treatment of malaria. Malaria is a parasitic disease caused by the plasmodium species. Symptoms may include chills, on-and-off fever, and sweating. Proguanil is mostly used in combination with other anti-malarial drugs for the prevention of malaria infection.
Proguanil contains Proguanil, which belongs to the class of antimalarial drugs. It works by inhibiting the survival of the parasite and thus stops the infection from spreading.
Proguanil may cause certain side effects, such as nausea, dizziness, vomiting, headache, diarrhoea, body pain, stomach discomfort, abdominal pain, and myalgia (muscle pain). These side effects usually disappear without any medical attention. Take Proguanil as prescribed by your doctor. Do not take more than the recommended dose of medicine.
Proguanil should be avoided if you are allergic to it. Before taking Proguanil, inform your doctor if you have/had any liver/kidney disease or heart problem or if you are taking any other medicines. Proguanil is only suggested for use in children if prescribed by a paediatrician. Pregnant and breastfeeding mothers should inform the physician before taking Proguanil.
Uses of Proguanil
Medicinal Benefits
Proguanil contains Proguanil, which belongs to the class of antimalarial drugs. It works by increasing the harmful, toxic, and highly reactive free radicals in the blood. This kills the parasite and stops the infection from spreading. Proguanil is used for the prevention of relapse of malaria caused by plasmodium species. Proguanil is used alone or in combination with other medicines for the treatment of malarial infection.
Directions for Use
Storage
Side Effects of Proguanil
- Vomiting
- Headache
- Stomach pain
- Dizziness
- Abdominal pain
- Nausea
- Myalgia
- Body pains
In-Depth Precautions and Warning
Drug Warnings
Avoid using Proguanil if you are allergic to it or any other components. Let your doctor know about your complete medical and medication history to avoid any interactions. Limited information is available for the use of Proguanil in pregnant and breastfeeding mothers. Hence, inform your doctor if you are pregnant, planning for pregnancy or are breastfeeding before starting the treatment. Before taking Proguanil, inform your doctor if you have/had any liver/kidney disease or heart problem or if you are taking any other medicines. Proguanil is only suggested for use in children if prescribed by a paediatrician.
Drug Interactions
Drug-drug interactions: Proguanil may interact with vaccines (typhoid vaccine), antiviral medicine (efavirenz, ritonavir), and anti-rheumatic (auranofin, gold sodium thiomalate). Inform your doctor if you are taking other medicines.
Drug-food interactions: No interactions found.
Drug-disease interactions: Proguanil should be used with caution in patients with severe liver and kidney impairment, gastrointestinal system (gut), and heart problems.
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
consult your doctorThe interaction of Proguanil with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor for more information.
Pregnancy
cautionIf you are pregnant or planning for pregnancy, inform your doctor before taking Proguanil. Your doctor may prescribe this medicine if the benefits outweigh the risks.
Breast Feeding
cautionIt is unknown whether Proguanil is secreted in human milk. When using this medicine while breastfeeding, exercise caution. Consult your doctor for more information.
Driving
unsafeProguanil may decrease alertness or make you feel sleepy and dizzy. So, do not drive or operate heavy machinery after taking Proguanil until you are alert.
Liver
cautionProguanil should be used with caution if you have a pre-existing or a history of liver disease. Your doctor may adjust the dose based on your condition.
Kidney
cautionProguanil should be used with caution if you have a pre-existing or a history of kidney disease. This medicine may cause severe renal impairment in some patients. Your doctor may adjust the dose based on your condition.
Children
safe if prescribedProguanil should be used in children only when clinically needed and recommended by the paediatrician. Please consult your doctor for more information.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- It is important to allow the patient to eat regularly in small amounts to tolerate the food.
- Eating at the correct time and taking proper rest is important for the patient to recover.
- Avoid eating fried and processed foods; junk, oily and spicy foods can aggravate nausea and disturb the body's digestion process. Try to add protein to your diet.
- Eat nutritious food that helps to improve malaria-induced weakness.
- Keep your area and surroundings mosquito-free.
- Use mosquito-repellent products to avoid the recurrence of infections and any other further complications.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Malaria: It is a life-threatening parasitic disease caused by the mosquito bite. When the mosquito bites, the plasmodium parasite enters the body, multiplies in the liver, spreads via the bloodstream and thus causes the infection by releasing toxic chemicals. Four types of plasmodium parasites can infect humans with malaria: Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium vivax, Plasmodium ovale, and Plasmodium malaria. Symptoms may include chills, on-and-off fever, sweating, vomiting, etc.
FAQs
Proguanil contains Proguanil, which works by inhibiting the survival of the parasite and thus stops the infection from spreading.
It is advised not to miss any dose. However, if you forget to take a dose of Proguanil, try to take it as soon as you remember. If it is time for your next dose, avoid taking the skipped dose and continue with your regular dose.
Do not stop taking Proguanil without completing the course of the treatment. Abrupt stopping may result in drug resistance, and treating any subsequent infection with the same medicine would be very difficult.