Malaria Drugs Flashcards
1
Q
Lumefantrine
A
- Unknown mechanism
- Effective against erythrocytic stage
- Rapid initial reduction in parasite biomass afforded by artemether and subsequent clearance of remaining viable parasites by the more slowly eliminated lumefantrine
2
Q
What is the “radical cure”?
A
Primoquine
- Drug of choice to eliminate hepatic forms of P. vivax and P. oval
- –Eradicates hypnozoite forms dormant in liver
- –Some prefer to wait for the low risk of relapse rather than face potential side-effects of the drug
3
Q
What is the mechanism of Primaquine?
A
Unknown.
- Possibly by generation of reactive oxygen species of by interfering with electron transport in the parasite
- Untowared effects
- –Occasional Gi distress, nausea, headache, pruritis, leukopenia
- –Hemolytic anemia in people with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency
4
Q
No drugs work against. . .
A
sporozoite form!!
5
Q
Most drugs work against. . .
A
RBC asexual or gametocyte forms
6
Q
What drugs can work in the liver stages?
A
- Pyrimethamine/Sulfadoxine
- Atovaquone/Proguanil
- Primaquine
7
Q
When you lower doses you. . .
A
. ..lower side effects
