This combination medication contains two active ingredients: atovaquone and proguanil. It is used to treat and prevent Malaria. It works by killing P. falciparum, the parasite that causes malaria. It may be effective in areas where other antimalarial medications are no longer effective.

Malarone may be available under multiple brand names and/or in several different forms. Any specific brand name of Malarone may not be available in all of the forms or approved for all of the conditions discussed here. As well, some forms of Malarone may not be used for all of the conditions discussed here.

Your doctor may have suggested Malarone for conditions other than those listed in these drug information articles. If you have not discussed this with your doctor or are not sure why you are taking Malarone, speak to your doctor. Do not stop taking Malarone without consulting your doctor.

Do not give Malarone to anyone else, even if they have the same symptoms as you do. It can be harmful for people to take Malarone if their doctor has not prescribed it.

The usual recommended adult dose for preventing malaria is 1 tablet daily, starting 1 to 2 days before entering an area where malaria is present and continuing until 7 days after leaving the affected area.

The usual recommended adult dose for treating malaria is 4 tablets once daily for 3 days.

Children's doses for malaria prevention and treatment are based on body weight.

Malarone should be swallowed whole with fluid; however, it may be crushed and mixed in condensed milk immediately before taking the dose if it cannot be swallowed whole.

Malarone should be taken with food or a milky drink at the same time each day. If vomiting occurs within one hour of the dose, another dose should be taken. If vomiting continues, your doctor will likely consider using another treatment.

People who are unable to eat food should use a different treatment if possible, as the absorption of the medication is significantly reduced when the stomach is empty.

Many things can affect the dose of a medication that a person needs, such as body weight, other medical conditions, and other medications. If your doctor has recommended a dose different from the ones listed here, do not change the way that you are taking the medication without consulting your doctor.

It is important to take Malarone exactly as prescribed by your doctor. If you miss a dose, take it as soon as possible and continue with your regular schedule. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one. If you are not sure what to do after missing a dose, contact your doctor or pharmacist for advice.

Store Malarone at room temperature, protect it from light and moisture, and keep it out of the reach of children.

Do not dispose of medications in wastewater (e.g. down the sink or in the toilet) or in household garbage. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medications that are no longer needed or have expired.

Many medications can cause side effects. A side effect is an unwanted response to a medication when it is taken in normal doses. Side effects can be mild or severe, temporary or permanent.

The side effects listed below are not experienced by everyone who takes Malarone. If you are concerned about side effects, discuss the risks and benefits of Malarone with your doctor.

The following side effects have been reported by at least 1% of people taking Malarone. Many of these side effects can be managed, and some may go away on their own over time.

Contact your doctor if you experience these side effects and they are severe or bothersome. Your pharmacist may be able to advise you on managing side effects.

• abdominal pain
• back pain
• Constipation
• coughing
• Diarrhea
• difficulty sleeping
• dizziness
• hair loss
• headache
• heartburn
• increased sensitivity to sunlight
• indigestion
• itching skin
• loss of appetite
• nausea
• tiredness
• vomiting

Although most of these side effects listed below don't happen very often, they could lead to serious problems if you do not check with your doctor or seek medical attention.

Check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur:

• flu-like symptoms (e.g., Fever, muscle aches, sore throat)
• hallucinations
• irritation or sores in the mouth
• rapid heart rate or abnormal heartbeat
• severe dizziness when rising from a lying or sitting position
• signs of Anemia (low red blood cells; e.g., decreased energy, weakness, breathlessness)
• signs of blood vessel inflammation (e.g., red or purple raised spots on the skin)
• signs of Depression (e.g., poor concentration, changes in weight, changes in sleep, decreased interest in activities, mood changes, thoughts of suicide)
• signs of infection (fever, severe chills, sore throat, mouth ulcers)
• signs of liver problems (e.g., nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, weight loss, yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes, dark urine, pale stools)
• skin rash

Stop taking the medication and seek immediate medical attention if any of the following occur:

• signs of a serious allergic reaction (e.g., abdominal cramps, difficulty breathing, nausea and vomiting, or swelling of the face and throat)
• symptoms of a severe skin rash (e.g., blistering, peeling, a rash covering a large area of the body, a rash that spreads quickly, or a rash combined with fever or discomfort)

Some people may experience side effects other than those listed. Check with your doctor if you notice any symptom that worries you while you are taking Malarone.

Malarone 250 mg tablet
Each pink, round, biconvex, film-coated tablet, branded "GX CM3", contains atovaquone 250 mg and proguanil HCl 100 mg (equivalent to proguanil base 87.4 mg). Nonmedicinal ingredients: low-substituted hydroxypropyl cellulose, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose, poloxamer 188, povidone K30, and sodium starch glycolate; coating: hypromellose, macrogol 400, polyethylene glycol 8000, red iron oxide, and titanium dioxide.

Malarone Pediatric 62.5 mg tablet
Each pink, round, biconvex, film-coated tablet, branded "GX CG7", contains atovaquone 62.5 mg and proguanil HCl 25 mg (equivalent to proguanil base 21.86 mg). Nonmedicinal ingredients: low-substituted hydroxypropyl cellulose, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose, poloxamer 188, povidone K30, and sodium starch glycolate; coating: hypromellose, macrogol 400, polyethylene glycol 8000, red iron oxide, and titanium dioxide.

Malarone Pediatric Tablets are smaller in size than Malarone Tablets (adult strength).