Mepacrine

Mepacrine is an antiparasitic medication. It is used in the treatment of malaria, a mosquito-borne infectious disease, characterized by high-grade fever, chills, sweating, nausea, or vomiting.

Mepacrine should be taken in the dose and duration as advised by the doctor. You should take it with food. It is better to have this medicine at the same time each day to get the most benefit and you should keep on taking this medicine for as long as you are prescribed.

Some people may develop side effects like headache, rash, changes in mood, and urine or skin discoloration. These side effects are usually temporary and go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Consult your doctor if these side effects bother you or do not go away. It may even cause dizziness when you get up from sitting or lying down. Thus, it is better to get up slowly to reduce such side effects.

Before starting treatment with this medicine, you should tell your doctor if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or suffering from any liver, kidney, or heart problems or if you are allergic to any medicine.

• Malaria

Malaria
Mepacrine is used to treat malaria, a serious or life-threatening illness that is spread by a parasite that enters the human body by the bite of infected mosquitoes. It kills the infection-causing parasite and stops the further spread of the infection. Take it only as prescribed and refrain from taking any other medicines along with this medicine (unless advised by the doctor) as they may affect the absorption of this medicine. Do not use this medicine for treating any other condition without consulting your doctor.

Most side effects do not require any medical attention and disappear as your body adjusts to the medicine. Consult your doctor if they persist or if you’re worried about them

Common side effects of Maladin

• Headache
• Rash
• Mood changes
• Urine discoloration

Take this medicine in the dose and duration as advised by your doctor. Swallow it as a whole. Do not chew, crush or break it. Mepacrine is to be taken with food.

Mepacrine is an antiparasitic medication. Although its exact mechanism of action is not known, it probably works by binding to the DNA of the parasites (worms) thereby killing them. This treats your infection.

• Mepacrine is given for the treatment of malaria.
• Yellow discoloration of the skin and urine may occur during long-term

treatment. This is common, but quite harmless, and should not be a cause for concern as it goes away when you stop the medicine.

• Mepacrine might cause dizziness, particularly when you get up from sitting or lying down. Getting up slowly should help to reduce this side effect.
• Inform your doctor if you have liver disease before starting your treatment with Mepacrine.
• Let your doctor know if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

ScienceDirect. Mepacrine. [Accessed 30 Mar. 2019] (online) Available from: