Tafenoquine Dosage
Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Nov 15, 2023.
Applies to the following strengths: 150 mg; 100 mg
Usual Adult Dose for:
Usual Pediatric Dose for:
Additional dosage information:
Usual Adult Dose for Malaria
300 mg orally once as a single dose
Comments:
- Limitations of Use:
- This drug is not indicated for the treatment of acute Plasmodium vivax malaria.
- Concomitant use of this drug with antimalarials other than chloroquine is not recommended due to the risk of recurrence of P vivax malaria.
- This drug should be coadministered on the first or second day of chloroquine therapy for acute P vivax malaria.
- A repeat dose is recommended if vomiting occurs within 1 hour after dosing; re-dosing should not be attempted more than once.
Use: For the radical cure (prevention of relapse) of P vivax malaria in patients receiving chloroquine therapy for acute P vivax infection
Usual Adult Dose for Malaria Prophylaxis
Loading dose: 200 mg orally once a day for 3 days
Maintenance dose: 200 mg orally once a week
Terminal prophylaxis dose: 200 mg orally once as a single dose
Duration of therapy: Up to 6 months of continuous dosing
Comments:
- The loading dose should be administered for each of the 3 days prior to travel to malarious area.
- The maintenance dose should be started 7 days after the last loading dose and should be continued while in the malarious area.
- The terminal prophylaxis regimen should be administered 7 days after the last maintenance dose in the week after exit from malarious area.
- The full course of therapy should be completed (including the loading dose, maintenance dose, and terminal dose).
- To replace missed dose(s):
- If 1 loading dose is missed: 1 dose of 200 mg so that a total of 3 daily loading doses have been administered; the maintenance dose should be started 1 week after the last loading dose
- If 2 loading doses are missed: 2 doses of 200 mg on 2 consecutive days so that a total of 3 daily loading doses have been administered; the maintenance dose should be started 1 week after the last loading dose
- If 1 maintenance (weekly) dose is missed: 1 dose of 200 mg on any day up to the time of the next scheduled weekly dose
- If 2 maintenance (weekly) doses are missed: 1 dose of 200 mg on any day up to the time of the next scheduled weekly dose
- If at least 3 maintenance (weekly) doses are missed: 2 doses of 200 mg, administered as 200 mg once a day for 2 days up to the time of the next scheduled weekly dose
- If the terminal prophylaxis dose is missed: 1 dose of 200 mg as soon as remembered
Use: For the prophylaxis of malaria
Usual Pediatric Dose for Malaria
16 years or older: 300 mg orally once as a single dose
Comments:
- Limitations of Use:
- This drug is not indicated for the treatment of acute P vivax malaria.
- Concomitant use of this drug with antimalarials other than chloroquine is not recommended due to the risk of recurrence of P vivax malaria.
- This drug should be coadministered on the first or second day of chloroquine therapy for acute P vivax malaria.
- A repeat dose is recommended if vomiting occurs within 1 hour after dosing; re-dosing should not be attempted more than once.
Use: For the radical cure (prevention of relapse) of P vivax malaria in patients receiving chloroquine therapy for acute P vivax infection
Renal Dose Adjustments
Renal dysfunction: Monitoring for drug-related side effects recommended.
Liver Dose Adjustments
Liver dysfunction: Monitoring for drug-related side effects recommended.
Precautions
CONTRAINDICATIONS:
- Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency or unknown G6PD status (due to risk of hemolytic anemia)
- Breastfeeding when infant is G6PD deficient or if G6PD status of infant is unknown
- Known hypersensitivity to the active component, any of the ingredients, or other 8-aminoquinolines
- For the prophylaxis of malaria: History of psychotic disorders or current psychotic symptoms (i.e., hallucinations, delusions, and/or grossly disorganized behavior)
For the prophylaxis of malaria: Safety and efficacy have not been established in patients younger than 18 years.
For the radical cure of P vivax malaria: Safety and efficacy have not been established in patients younger than 16 years.
Consult WARNINGS section for additional precautions.
Dialysis
Data not available
Other Comments
Administration advice:
- Test all patients for G6PD deficiency before prescribing this drug.
- Test females of reproductive potential for pregnancy before starting this drug.
- Administer with food (to increase systemic absorption).
- Swallow tablets whole; do not break, crush, or chew.
- For the prophylaxis of malaria: Complete the full course of therapy (including the loading dose, maintenance dose, and terminal dose).
- For the radical cure of P vivax malaria: Do not use to treat acute P vivax malaria; coadminister this drug on the 1st or 2nd day of chloroquine therapy for acute P vivax malaria.
- For the radical cure of P vivax malaria: Administer an additional dose if vomiting occurs within 1 hour after dosing; do not attempt to re-dose more than once.
Storage requirements:
- Store at 20C to 25C (68F to 77F); excursions permitted to 15C to 30C (59F to 86F).
- Protect from moisture.
- Blister card (100 mg tablets): Dispense only in original carton.
- Bottle (150 mg tablets): Store in original container with desiccant inside; keep bottle tightly closed.
Monitoring:
- General: Pregnancy testing in females of reproductive potential (before therapy); for drug-related side effects in patients with renal and/or liver dysfunction
- Hematologic: For clinical signs/symptoms of hemolysis
- Metabolic: For G6PD deficiency (before prescribing)
Patient advice:
- Read the US FDA-approved patient labeling (Medication Guide [for the prophylaxis of malaria]; Patient Information [for the radical cure of P vivax malaria]).
- Promptly seek medical advice if symptoms of hemolytic anemia or methemoglobinemia occur; contact healthcare provider if dark/darker lips or urine develop.
- Females of reproductive potential: Avoid pregnancy or use effective contraception during therapy and for 3 months after the last dose of this drug.
- For the prophylaxis of malaria: Seek medical attention as soon as possible if hallucinations, delusions, or confused thinking occur during therapy; seek prompt evaluation by medical professional if other psychiatric symptoms (e.g., changes in mood, anxiety, insomnia, nightmares) last more than 3 days or are severe.
- For the radical cure of P vivax malaria: Promptly seek medical advice if new or worsening psychiatric symptoms develop.
- Promptly seek medical advice if symptoms of hypersensitivity reactions develop.
- For the prophylaxis of malaria: Avoid missing doses and complete the entire course of therapy.
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More about tafenoquine
- Check interactions
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- During pregnancy
- Drug class: antimalarial quinolines
- Breastfeeding
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Patient resources
- Tafenoquine drug information
- Tafenoquine (Advanced Reading)
- Tafenoquine (Malaria Prevention)
- Tafenoquine (Prevention of Malaria Relapse)
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