Daraprim

Daraprim is used to treat malaria and toxoplasmosis. It is usually taken with a sulfonamide. Discontinue if rash occurs.

Daraprim Overview

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Daraprim is a prescription medication used to treat malaria and toxoplasmosis, a disease caused by parasites. It is also used to prevent malaria. Daraprim belongs to a group of drugs called diaminopyrimidines. These help to fight against parasites.

This medication is comes in tablet form and is taken up to 2 times a day, with or without food. 

If anorexia and vomiting occur, try taking Daraprim with meals.

Common side effects of Daraprim include anorexia, vomiting, or anemia. 

How was your experience with Daraprim?

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What are you taking Daraprim for?

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  • Other
  • Aids-related Opportunistic Infections
  • Malaria, Falciparum

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  • Less than a week
  • A couple weeks
  • A month or so
  • A few months
  • A year or so
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Daraprim Cautionary Labels

precautionsprecautionsprecautions

Uses of Daraprim

Daraprim is a prescription medication used to prevent and treat malaria. It is also used to treat toxoplasmosis, a disease caused by parasites.

This medication may be prescribed for other uses. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information. 

Manufacturer

Daraprim Drug Class

Daraprim is part of the drug class:

Side Effects of Daraprim

Serious side effects have been reported with Daraprim. See the “Daraprim Precautions” section.

Common side effects of Daraprim include the following:

  • anorexia
  • vomiting
  • decreases in blood cell counts

​This is not a complete list of Daraprim side effects. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Tell your doctor if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

 

Daraprim Interactions

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Especially tell your doctor if you take:

  • phenytoin (Dilantin)
  • antifolic drugs such as
    • sulfonamides
    • trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole
    • proguanil
    • zidovudine
    • cytostatic agents such as methotrexate
  • lorazepam (Ativan)

This is not a complete list of Daraprim drug interactions. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Daraprim Precautions

Serious side effects have been reported with Daraprim including the following: 

  • Rash. At the first appearance of a skin rash, stop use of Daraprim and seek medical attention immediately.
  • Folate deficiency. If you have folate deficiency, your doctor may reduce the dose or stop the medication. Your doctor may prescribe Folinic acid (leucovorin). 
  • Cancer. There have been 2 cases in humans where Daraprim was taken for long period of time and resulted in cancer. 
  • Accidental Ingestion. Keep Daraprim out of the reach of children and infants. Deaths in pediatric patients have been reported after accidental ingestion.
  • Hypersensitivity reactions, occasionally severe (such as Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis, erythema multiforme, and anaphylaxis). At the first appearance of a skin rash, stop use of Daraprim and seek medical attention immediately. If you experience a sore throat, pallor, purpura, or glossitis, seek medical attention immediately. These may be early indications of serious disorders. Your doctor will probably need to stop treatment with Daraprim. 

Do not take Daraprim if you:

  • are allergic to Daraprim or to any of its ingredients
  • have megaloblastic anemia due to folate deficiency

Daraprim Food Interactions

Medications can interact with certain foods. In some cases, this may be harmful and your doctor may advise you to avoid certain foods. In the case of Daraprim, there are no specific foods that you must exclude from your diet when receiving this medication.

 

Inform MD

Before taking Daraprim, tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions. Especially tell your doctor if you:

  • are allergic to Daraprim or to any of its ingredients
  • have folate deficiency
  • have or have a history of seizures
  • have kidney or liver problems
  • have malabsorption syndrome
  • take phenytoin
  • have alcoholism
  • are pregnant or plan to become pregnant
  • are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

Daraprim and Pregnancy

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

The FDA categorizes medications based on safety for use during pregnancy. Five categories - A, B, C, D, and X, are used to classify the possible risks to an unborn baby when a medication is taken during pregnancy.

Daraprim falls into category C. In animal studies, pregnant animals were given this medication and had some babies born with problems. No well-controlled studies have been done in humans. Therefore, this medication may be used if the potential benefits to the mother outweigh the potential risks to the unborn child.

Taking folinic acid is strongly recommended when used for the treatment of toxoplasmosis during pregnancy.

 

Daraprim and Lactation

Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.

Daraprim has been detected in human breast milk. Because of the possibility for adverse reactions in nursing infants from Daraprim, a choice should be made whether to stop nursing or to stop use of this medication. The importance of the drug to the mother should be considered.

 

Daraprim Usage

Take Daraprim exactly as prescribed.

This medication is comes in tablet form and is taken up to 2 times a day, with or without food. 
 
If anorexia and vomiting occur, try taking Daraprim with meals.
 
Taking folinic acid is strongly recommended when used for the treatment of toxoplasmosis in all patients. 
 
If you miss a dose, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the regular time. Do not take two doses of Daraprim at the same time.

Daraprim Dosage

Take this medication exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully.

The dose your doctor recommends may be based on the following:

  • the condition being treated
  • other medical conditions you have
  • other medications you are taking
  • how you respond to this medication
  • your weight
  • your age

The recommended starting dose range of Daraprim (pyrimethamine) for the treatment of toxoplasmosis in adults is 50 to 75 mg daily. Daraprim is given with 1 to 4 g daily of a sulfonamide. After a few weeks, the doctor may reduce the dose.

The recommended dosage of Daraprim (pyrimethamine) for the treatment of toxoplasmosis in children is 1 mg/kg/day divided into 2 equal daily doses. After a few days, the doctor may reduce the dose. 

The recommended dose/dose range of Daraprim (pyrimethamine) for the treatment of acute malaria is 25 mg daily for 2 days with a sulfonamide. 
 
  • If Daraprim is given alone for the treatment of acute malaria, the recommended dose in adults is 50 mg for 2 days. In children 4 through 10 years old, Daraprim may be given at 25 mg daily for 2 days. 
 
The recommended doses of Daraprim (pyrimethamine) for prevention of Malaria are the following:
  • Adults and pediatric patients over 10 years – 25 mg (1 tablet) once weekly
  • Children 4 through 10 years – 12.5 mg (1/2 tablet) once weekly
  • Infants and children under 4 years – 6.25 mg (1/4 tablet) once weekly

Daraprim Overdose

If you take too much Daraprim, call your healthcare provider or local Poison Control Center, or seek emergency medical attention right away.

Other Requirements

  • Store at 15° to 25°C (59° to 77°F) in a dry place and protect from light.
  • Keep this and all medicines out of the reach of children.