Drug interactions -summary

Magnesium salts +

Aminoquinolines                                                                                                          absorption and therapeutic effect of aminoquinolines decreased 

Malaria 

Mild and transcient headache, dizziness, GI complaints, diarrhea, Anorexia, nausea, abdominal cramps. Pleomorphic skin erruptions, Neuropschiatric disturbances. Aplastic anemia, hepatitis.

Concomittant use with primaquine

Indications:

Malaria

Dosage:

Adults and children- more than 8 years old- 200mg with 1g sodium bicarbonate every 6 hours for 5 doses, then 100mg 3 times daily for 6 days (total dosage- 2.5g in 7 days)

Children(4 to 8 yrs old)- 200mg 3 times daily for first day, then 100mg every 12 hrs for 6 days Children(1 to 4 years old)- 100mg 3 times daily for the first day, then 100mg once daily for 6 days

 1. Best taken after meals with a full glass of water, tea or fruit juice , unless 

Pharmacology:

Quinacrine couples and fixes DNA so that it is unable to replicate or serve the transcription of RNA. Protein synthesis is thus decreased through ribosomal destruction.

Pharmacokinetics:

Oral administration produces maximum plasma levels in 1 to 3 hrs and is widely distributed to tissues. Excretion is slow and the drug tends to accumulate , thus quinacrine persists in the body for long periods of time. Biological half life is 5 days. The main route of excretion is urine (11%).

Pregnancy:

Use only when clearly needed.