ATOVAQUONE

Brand & Generic Names

Mepron

Basic Information

• Habit forming? No
• Prescription needed? Yes
• Available as generic? No
• Drug class: Antiprotozoal

Uses

• Treats mild to moderate pneumocystis carinii pneumonia.
• May be effective for other parasitic infections such as toxoplasmosis and malaria.

Dosage & Usage Information

How to take:
Tablet--Swallow with liquid. If you cannot swallow whole, crumble tablet and take with liquid or food.

When to take:
At the same time each day. Take with meals that are high in fat (eggs, cheese, butter, milk, meat, pizza, nuts) to increase absorption.

If you forget a dose:
Take as soon as you remember up to 2 hours late. If more than 2 hours, wait for next scheduled dose (don't double this dose).

What drug does:
Stops harmful growth of susceptible organisms.

Time lapse before drug works:
3 weeks.

Don't take with:
Any other prescription or non-prescription drug without consulting your doctor or pharmacist.

Overdose

SYMPTOMS:
None expected.

WHAT TO DO:

Overdose unlikely to threaten life. If person takes much larger amount than prescribed, call doctor, poison control center or hospital emergency room for instructions.

Possible Adverse Reactions or Side Effects

Life-threatening:

None expected.

Common:

• Fever, skin rash.
• Nausea or vomiting, diarrhea, headache, cough, trouble sleeping.

Infrequent:

None expected.

Rare:

None expected.

Warnings & Precautions

Don't take if:
You are allergic to atovaquone.

Before you start, consult your doctor:
If you have any gastrointestinal disorder.

Over age 60:
No problems expected.

Pregnancy:
Animal studies show possibility of fetal abnormalities. Discuss with your doctor whether drug benefits justify risk to unborn child.

Breast-feeding:
Not known if drug passes into breast milk. Avoid drug or discontinue nursing until you finish medicine. Consult doctor for advice on maintaining milk supply.

Infants & children:
Give only under close medical supervision.

Prolonged use:
Not intended for long-term use.

Skin & sunlight:
No problems expected.

Driving, piloting or hazardous work:
No problems expected.

Others:

• Advise any doctor or dentist whom you consult that you take this medicine.
• May affect the results in some medical tests.
• Talk to your doctor about the need for followup medical examinations or laboratory studies to check blood counts and liver function.

Possible Interaction with Other Drugs

GENERIC NAME	COMBINED EFFECT
-------------------------	-----------------------

Possible Interaction with Other Substances

INTERACTS WITH	COMBINED EFFECT
---------------	---------------
Alcohol:	None expected.
Beverages:	None expected.
Cocaine:	None expected.
Foods:	None expected.
Marijuana:	None expected.
Tobacco:	None expected.