Antiparasitic Drugs Flashcards
Metronidazole: Adverse Effects
Disulfiram effect: drug inhibits metabolism of alcohol and other drugs (i.e. coumarin drugs)
- SEVERE symptoms, but not life-threatening
Metronidazole: Selective Activation of what
Anaerobic Parasites and Bacteria (prodrug)
Metronidazole: Therapeutic Uses
Treatment of
(1) amebiasis,
(2) giardiasis,
(3) trichomoniasis, and
(4) anaerobic bacterial infections
Chloroquine: Therapeutic Uses
Prophylaxis and treatment of erythrocytic forms of parasite
- Can cure P. falciparum malaria but doesn’t act on latent hepatic stage of P. vivax or ovale
Chloroquine: Mechanism of Action
- QUINOLINE: Selectively concentrated in infected erythrocytes
~ this inhibits polymerization of heme into
nonreactive form (hemozoin) in the
parasite
Quinine: Mechanism of Action
Mechanism probably the same as chloroquine
Quinine: Therapeutic Uses
Only active against erythrocitic form of parasite
- Primarily used in the treatment of chloroquine-resistant P. falciparum
~Used in combination with other drugs (i.e.
doxycycline)
Quinine: Adverse Effects
- Cinchonism (a disorder due to excessive or prolonged use of cinchona or its alkaloids and marked by temporary deafness, ringing in the ears, headache, dizziness, and rash)
- Hypoglycemia
Doxycycline: Mechanism of Action
(Tetracycline drug) Inhibits bacterial-like mitochondrial protein synthesis in parasite
Doxycycline: Therapeutic Uses
Useful in prophylaxis of malaria
- only active against the erythrocitic form of parasite
Primaquine: Mechanism of Action
UNCLEAR
Primaquine: Therapeutic Uses
Effective against hepatic forms of parasite (latent), but NOT erythrocytic forms
- Drug of choice for Plasmodia vivax or ovale
What is Primaquine used in combination with? What does this cause?
Chloroquine; “Radical cure”
Primaquine: Adverse Effects
An oxidant: can cause hemolytic anemia in patients with G6PD
What 2 drugs are used to treat Nematode (roundworm): Ascaris/Enterobius infections?
Pyrantel and Mebendazole
