Halofantrine Dosage

Usual Adult Dose for Malaria

Mild to moderate Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax malaria:
Nonimmune patients: 500 mg orally every 6 hours for 3 doses; repeat course in 7 days.

Semi-immune patients: 500 mg orally every 6 hours for 3 doses. Consideration may be given to omitting the second course.

Usual Pediatric Dose for Malaria

Mild to moderate Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax malaria:

<18 years, <40 kg: 8 mg/kg orally every 6 hours for 3 doses. Repeat course in 7 days if patient is nonimmune.

<18 years, >=40 kg:
Nonimmune patients: 500 mg orally every 6 hours for 3 doses; repeat course in 7 days.

Semi-immune patients: 500 mg orally every 6 hours for 3 doses. Consideration may be given to omitting the second course.

Renal Dose Adjustments

Data not available

Liver Dose Adjustments

Data not available

Precautions

Halofantrine prolongs the QTc interval at recommended doses. Ventricular arrhythmias and death (including sudden death) have been reported. This effect is dose-dependent; therefore, recommended doses should not be exceeded.

Halofantrine is contraindicated in patients with a family history of congenital QTc interval prolongation. Its use is not recommended in conditions or other drugs which are known to prolong the QTc interval or in patients with suspected ventricular dysrhythmias, AV conduction disturbances, or unexplained syncopal attacks.

Halofantrine should not be given to patients who have recently taken or are concomitantly taking mefloquine for malaria treatment or prophylaxis, due to the risk of potentially fatal QT interval prolongation.

ECGs should be performed before treatment to ascertain that baseline QTc is within normal limits. Cardiac rhythm should be monitored during therapy and for 8 to 12 hours after completion of each course of therapy.

Patients with severe or life-threatening malaria should be treated with a parenteral antimalarial agents. Its efficacy has not been established in the treatment of cerebral malaria or other types of complicated malaria.

Caution is recommended with concurrent drugs that are significant CYP450 3A4 inhibitors, because its metabolism may be decreased, leading to higher plasma levels and an increased risk of QT interval prolongation.

Dialysis

Data not available

Other Comments

Administer on an empty stomach, at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after food.

To avoid relapse due to exoerythrocytic parasites, patients should be treated with an 8-aminoquinoline antimalarial agent (e.g., primaquine) after halofantrine treatment.

Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

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