Primaquine Phosphate

Sanofi-Aventis U.S. LLC

PRIMAQUINE PHOSPHATE TABLETS, USP

FULL PRESCRIBING INFORMATION: CONTENTS*

• PRIMAQUINE PHOSPHATE DESCRIPTION
• CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY
• PRIMAQUINE PHOSPHATE INDICATIONS AND USAGE
• PRIMAQUINE PHOSPHATE CONTRAINDICATIONS
• WARNINGS
  • Usage in Pregnancy
• PRECAUTIONS
  • Geriatric Use
• PRIMAQUINE PHOSPHATE ADVERSE REACTIONS
• OVERDOSAGE
• PRIMAQUINE PHOSPHATE DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION
• HOW SUPPLIED
• Clinical Studies
• PRINCIPAL DISPLAY PANEL - 26.3 mg Tablet Bottle Label

FULL PRESCRIBING INFORMATION

PRIMAQUINE PHOSPHATE DESCRIPTION

Primaquine phosphate is 8-[(4-Amino-1-methylbutyl)amino]-6-methoxyquinoline phosphate, a synthetic compound with potent antimalarial activity. Each tablet contains 26.3 mg of Primaquine phosphate (equivalent to 15 mg of primaquine base). The dosage is customarily expressed in terms of the base.

Inactive Ingredients: Carnauba Wax, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Lactose, Magnesium Stearate, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Polyethylene Glycol 400, Polysorbate 80, Pregelatinized Starch, Red Ferric Oxide, Talc, Titanium Dioxide.

CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY

Primaquine phosphate is an 8-aminoquinoline compound which eliminates tissue (exoerythrocytic) infection. Thereby, it prevents the development of the blood (erythrocytic) forms of the parasite which are responsible for relapses in vivax malaria. Primaquine phosphate is also active against gametocytes of Plasmodium falciparum.

PRIMAQUINE PHOSPHATE INDICATIONS AND USAGE

Primaquine phosphate is indicated for the radical cure (prevention of relapse) of vivax malaria.

PRIMAQUINE PHOSPHATE CONTRAINDICATIONS

Primaquine phosphate is contraindicated in acutely ill patients suffering from systemic disease manifested by tendency to granulocytopenia, such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus erythematosus. The drug is also contraindicated in patients receiving concurrently other potentially hemolytic drugs or depressants of myeloid elements of the bone marrow.

Because quinacrine hydrochloride appears to potentiate the toxicity of antimalarial compounds which are structurally related to primaquine, the use of quinacrine in patients receiving primaquine is contraindicated. Similarly, Primaquine should not be administered to patients who have received quinacrine recently, as toxicity is increased.

WARNINGS

Discontinue the use of Primaquine phosphate promptly if signs suggestive of hemolytic anemia occur (darkening of the urine, marked fall of hemoglobin or erythrocytic count).

Hemolytic reactions (moderate to severe) may occur in individuals with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PD) deficiency and in individuals with a family or personal history of favism. Areas of high prevalence of G-6-PD deficiency are Africa, Southern Europe, Mediterranean region, Middle East, South-East Asia, and Oceania. People from these regions have a greater tendency to develop hemolytic anemia (due to a congenital deficiency of erythrocytic glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase) while receiving Primaquine and related drugs.

Usage in Pregnancy

Safe usage of this preparation in pregnancy has not been established. Therefore, use of it during pregnancy should be avoided except when in the judgment of the physician the benefit outweighs the possible hazard.

PRECAUTIONS

Since anemia, methemoglobinemia, and leukopenia have been observed following administration of large doses of primaquine, the adult dosage of 1 tablet (= 15 mg base) daily for fourteen days should not be exceeded. It is also advisable to make routine blood examinations (particularly blood cell counts and hemoglobin determinations) during therapy.

If primaquine phosphate is prescribed for (1) an individual who has shown a previous idiosyncrasy to primaquine phosphate (as manifested by hemolytic anemia, methemoglobinemia, or leukopenia), (2) an individual with a family or personal history of favism, or (3) an individual with erythrocytic glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PD) deficiency or nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) methemoglobin reductase deficiency, the person should be observed closely for tolerance. The drug should be discontinued immediately if marked darkening of the urine or sudden decrease in hemoglobin concentration or leukocyte count occurs.

Geriatric Use

Clinical studies of Primaquine did not include sufficient numbers of subjects aged 65 and over to determine whether they respond differently from younger subjects. Other reported clinical experience has not identified differences in responses between the elderly and younger patients. In general, dose selection for an elderly patient should be cautious, usually starting at the low end of the dosing range, reflecting the greater frequency of decreased hepatic, renal, or cardiac function, and of concomitant disease or other drug therapy.

PRIMAQUINE PHOSPHATE ADVERSE REACTIONS

Gastrointestinal: nausea, vomiting, epigastric distress, and abdominal cramps.

Hematologic: leukopenia, hemolytic anemia in glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PD) deficient individuals, and methemoglobinemia in nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) methemoglobin reductase deficient individuals.

OVERDOSAGE

Symptoms of overdosage of primaquine phosphate are similar to those seen after overdosage of pamaquine. They include abdominal cramps, vomiting, burning epigastric distress, central nervous system and cardiovascular disturbances, cyanosis, methemoglobinemia, moderate leukocytosis or leukopenia, and anemia. The most striking symptoms are granulocytopenia and acute hemolytic anemia in sensitive persons. Acute hemolysis occurs, but patients recover completely if the dosage is discontinued.

PRIMAQUINE PHOSPHATE DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION

Primaquine phosphate is recommended only for the radical cure of vivax malaria, the prevention of relapse in vivax malaria, or following the termination of chloroquine phosphate suppressive therapy in an area where vivax malaria is endemic. Patients suffering from an attack of vivax malaria or having parasitized red blood cells should receive a course of chloroquine phosphate, which quickly destroys the erythrocytic parasites and terminates the paroxysm. Primaquine phosphate should be administered concurrently in order to eradicate the exoerythrocytic parasites in a dosage of 1 tablet (equivalent to 15 mg base) daily for 14 days.

HOW SUPPLIED

Primaquine phosphate is supplied as pink, convex, discoid, film-coated tablets of 26.3 mg (= 15 mg base), printed with a "W" and "P97" on one side.

Available in bottles of 100. (NDC 0024-1596-01)

Store at 25° C (77° F); excursions permitted to 15° C – 30° C (59° F – 86° F) [see USP Controlled Room Temperature]

Dispense in tight, light-resistant container as defined in the USP/NF.

Clinical Studies

Malariologists agree that malaria produced by Plasmodium vivax is the most difficult form to treat. This is ascribed to the ability of the parasite to develop extremely resistant tissue forms which are not eradicated by ordinary antimalarial compounds.

Thus, persons with acute attacks of vivax malaria, provoked by the release of erythrocytic forms of the parasite, respond readily to therapy, particularly to Chloroquine phosphate. However, prior to the discovery of primaquine phosphate, no antimalarial drug was available that could be relied on to eliminate tissue (exoerythrocytic) infection and to prevent relapses. The various investigations made with primaquine in experimentally induced vivax malaria in human volunteers and in persons with naturally occurring infections have demonstrated that the drug is a valuable adjunct to conventional therapy in this refractory form of the disease.

50093778
Revised January 2013

Manufactured for:
sanofi-aventis U.S. LLC
Bridgewater, NJ 08807
A SANOFI COMPANY

©2013 sanofi-aventis U.S. LLC

PRINCIPAL DISPLAY PANEL - 26.3 mg Tablet Bottle Label

P-425    NDC 0024-1596-01    100 tablets
Primaquine phosphate Tablets, USP
26.3 mg (=15 mg base)

Usual Dosage: See package insert.
Dispense in tight, light-resistant container as
defined in the USP/NF. Store at 25° C (77° F);
excursions permitted to 15° C - 30° C (59° F - 86° F)
[see USP Controlled Room Temperature].

NSN 6505-01-348-2465
Rx only

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