Advertising Survey

We would like your input on how advertising is currently used in the site.

Please take this short survey to help us out.

Hide this message

Home > Medicines & Drugs > Proguanil hydrochloride with atovaquone

Print this page

Proguanil hydrochloride with atovaquone

  • These tablets are used to protect against malaria when travelling into areas where there is a malaria risk.
  • They are one of a number of measures that can be taken to reduce the risk of malaria - others include wearing suitable clothing, using insect repellents and sleeping in screened rooms or beds.
  • It is important that you take these tablets 1-2 days before you travel, during your stay and for 1 week after returning.

About proguanil hydrochloride with atovaquone

Type of medicineAntimalarial
Used forTo treat and prevent malaria
Also calledMalarone
Malarone® Paediatric
Available asTablets

Proguanil hydrochloride with atovaquone tablets are used to help prevent malaria. They work by preventing the growth of the infecting parasite in the blood.

Malaria is a tropical disease which can be passed on to humans by infected mosquitoes. Parasites called protozoa live inside the stomachs of female mosquitoes. These parasites can be passed on to humans by a mosquito bite. Medicines such as proguanil hydrochloride with atovaquone are used to protect against malaria but it is also important to try to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes. Using insect repellent creams during the day and wearing long-sleeved clothing and long trousers after dusk, help.

Because the pattern of malaria varies with the part of the world you are travelling to as well as the season and the type of activity you have planned, you should always obtain the latest advice from your doctor, pharmacist or travel organiser. A back-packing trip may well require different preventative measures against malaria than a business trip to a city.

Proguanil hydrochloride with atovaquone can also be used to treat malaria.

Before taking proguanil hydrochloride with atovaquone

Before taking proguanil hydrochloride with atovaquone make sure your doctor or pharmacist knows:

  • If you are pregnant, trying for a baby or breast-feeding.
  • If you are currently suffering from sickness or diarrhoea.
  • If you have kidney problems.
  • If you are taking other medicines, including those available to buy without a prescription, herbal or complementary medicines.
  • If you have ever had an allergic reaction to this or any other medicine.

How to take proguanil hydrochloride with atovaquone

  • Before beginning treatment, read the manufacturer's printed information leaflet.
  • Take this medication exactly as directed by your doctor or pharmacist.
  • This preparation should be taken for 1-2 days before entering a malarial area to ensure there is sufficient medicine in the bloodstream to give you the required protection. You must continue to take it throughout your stay and for one week after leaving.
  • Take your dose once daily with a milky drink or just after a meal. Take your doses at the same time each day.
  • For children, the tablets can be crushed and mixed with milk, jam or honey just before taking.
  • You must complete the course of this preparation. If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember unless it is nearly time for your next dose, in which case skip the missed dose. Do not take two doses at the same time to make up.

Getting the most from your treatment

  • If a malaria-carrying mosquito bites you then you could contract malaria. These tablets help to prevent malaria developing if you take them properly, but it is also important that you take the precautions below against being bitten by mosquitoes. This is especially important if you have diarrhoea or vomiting which can mean that the tablets may be less effective.
    • You should sleep in properly screened accommodation or with mosquito netting around your bed.
    • Use an insecticide spray in your room a couple of hours before going to bed and pay particular attention to furniture and under the bed where insects can hide.
    • Use an insect repellent and wear light-coloured clothing that covers most of the body, particularly after sunset as this is when mosquitoes feed.
  • If you feel ill or develop a fever or flu-like symptoms while you are travelling or within one year of returning home, check with your doctor immediately. This is especially important if the illness is within three months of your return.
  • If you buy any other medicines, check with a pharmacist that they are safe to take alongside this medicine.

Can proguanil hydrochloride with atovaquone cause problems?

Along with their useful effects all medicines can cause unwanted side-effects which usually improve as your body adjusts to the new medicine. Speak with your doctor or pharmacist if any of the following side-effects continue or become troublesome.

Common side-effects - these affect less than 1 in 10 people who take this medicineWhat can I do if I experience this
Feeling or being sick, abdominal painEat little and often and stick to simple foods. If you are sick within 1 hour of taking a dose of proguanil hydrochloride with atovaquone, then take a second dose
DiarrhoeaDrink plenty of water to replace any lost fluids
ConstipationTry to eat a well-balanced diet containing plenty of fibre and drink 6-8 glasses of water each day
Mouth ulcers and inflammationAvoid citrus fruit/drink and take extra care while brushing teeth. Ask a pharmacist to recommend a relieving gel
HeadacheAsk a pharmacist to recommend a suitable painkiller
DizzinessGetting up and moving more slowly may help. Make sure your reactions are normal before driving, operating machinery or doing any other jobs which could be dangerous if you were not fully alert
Cough, difficulty sleeping, dreams, depression, lack of appetite, fever, skin rash and itchingIf any of these are a cause of concern, speak to a doctor

Important: if you experience an allergic reaction with swelling of the mouth or face, stop taking these tablets and contact a doctor straight away.

If you experience any other symptoms which you think may be due to this medicine, speak with a doctor or pharmacist.

How to store proguanil hydrochloride with atovaquone

  • Keep all medicines out of the reach and sight of children.
  • Store in a cool, dry place, away from direct heat and light.

Important information about all medicines


  • Never take more than the prescribed dose. If you suspect that you or someone else has taken an overdose of this medicine, go to the accident and emergency department of your local hospital at once. Take the container with you, even if it is empty.
  • This medicine is for you. Never give it to other people even if their condition appears to be the same as yours.
  • Never keep out-of-date or unwanted medicines. Take them to your local pharmacy which will dispose of them for you.
  • If you have any questions about this medicine ask your pharmacist.

References

  • Manufacturer's PIL, Malarone, GlaxoSmithKline UK, electronic Medicines Compendium. Dated February 2009, accessed May 2009.
  • Manufacturer's PIL, Malarone Paediatric Tablets, GlaxoSmithKline UK, electronic Medicines Compendium. Dated February 2009, accessed May 2009.
  • British National Formulary; 57th Edition (March 2009) British Medical Association and Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain, London.
Comprehensive patient resources are available at www.patient.co.uk
© EMIS 2010DocID: 3714DocRef: dils3696Last Reviewed: 4 Mar 2010Version: 22
Provide feedback