Daraprim

Description

Generic Name:

Pyrimethamine

Description:
Pyrimethamine is an antiparasite medicine that helps prevent parasites from growing and reproducing in the body.

Pyrimethamine is used in adults and children to treat or prevent certain types of malaria. However, pyrimethamine is generally not preferred as a medicine to prevent malaria while traveling. When used to treat malaria, pyrimethamine should be used together with a faster-acting anti-malaria medicine such as chloroquine or quinine.

Pyrimethamine is also used to treat toxoplasmosis, an infection caused by the Toxoplasma parasite.

Pyrimethamine may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Indication:
Malaria

Dosage:
Follow all directions on your prescription label. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose. Do not take this medicine in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended.

Your dosage and the length of time you take pyrimethamine will depend on the reason you are taking this medicine. In some cases pyrimethamine is taken for several weeks, and you may need to take the medicine only once per week.

The pyrimethamine dose for treating toxoplasmosis is much higher than the dose for malaria.

Precaution & Warnings:
You should not use pyrimethamine if you have a blood cell disorder called megaloblastic anemia that has been caused by folate deficiency.

Prescription Information:
Proper doctor prescription is needed.
*Note: The prescription should not be older than 6 month.

Contraindication:
Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any you start or stop using, especially:

methotrexate;

phenytoin; or

a sulfa drug.

This list is not complete. Other drugs may interact with pyrimethamine, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible interactions are listed in this medication guide.