sulfadoxine/pyrimethamine - oral, Fansidar (cont.)
USES: This medication contains 2 medicines: sulfadoxine and pyrimethamine. This combination may be used to treat malaria caused by mosquito bites in countries where malaria is common. Malaria parasites can enter the body through these mosquito bites, and then live in body tissues such as red blood cells or the liver. This medication is used to kill the malaria parasites living inside red blood cells. In some cases, you may need to take a different medication (such as primaquine) to kill the malaria parasites living in other body tissues. Both medications may be needed for a complete cure and to prevent the return of infection (relapse). Sulfadoxine/pyrimethamine belongs to a class of drugs known as antimalarials.The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) does not recommend using this medication to prevent malaria (prophylaxis while traveling or living in areas where malaria is common) because severe (sometimes fatal) reactions are more common when this medication is used for prophylaxis. The CDC provides updated guidelines and travel recommendations for the prevention and treatment of malaria in different parts of the world. Discuss the most recent information with your doctor before traveling to areas where malaria occurs.This medication should not be used in infants younger than 2 months. Consult your doctor for more details.
HOW TO USE: Take this medication by mouth after a meal, as a single dose, exactly as directed by your doctor to treat malaria. Do not crush or chew the tablets. Take this drug with at least a full glass of fluid (8 ounces or 240 milliliters). Drink lots of fluids (6 to 8 glasses a day) for the next 7 to 10 days to prevent severe kidney problems (such as kidney stones).Dosage is based on your weight, medical condition, and response to treatment.If needed, primaquine can be taken for 14 days starting immediately after you have finished sulfadoxine/pyrimethamine treatment.Do not take more or less of this drug than prescribed. Doing so may cause treatment to work less well, cause the amount of parasites to increase, make the infection more difficult to treat (resistant), or worsen side effects.It is important to prevent mosquito bites (such as by using appropriate insect repellents, wearing clothes that cover most of the body, remaining in air-conditioned or well-screened areas, using mosquito nets and insect-killing sprays). Buy insect repellent before traveling. The most effective insect repellents contain diethyltoluamide (DEET). Ask your doctor or pharmacist to recommend the appropriate strengths of mosquito repellent for you/your children.No drug treatment is completely effective in preventing malaria. Seek immediate medical attention if you develop symptoms of malaria (such as fever, chills, headache, other flu-like symptoms). Malaria can return, even months after completing prevention/treatment. Quick treatment of malaria infection is needed to prevent serious, possibly fatal, outcomes.Tell your doctor if your condition persists or worsens.
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