The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • August 10, 2020; (Issue 1604)
Artesunate for injection (Amivas LLC), a semi-synthetic
artemisinin derivative, is now approved
by the FDA for initial (induction) treatment of severe
malaria in children and adults. It has been...
Artesunate for injection (Amivas LLC), a semi-synthetic
artemisinin derivative, is now approved
by the FDA for initial (induction) treatment of severe
malaria in children and adults. It has been available
from the CDC on a compassionate use basis since
2007. Artemether/lumefantrine (Coartem), another
artemisinin-based drug, was approved earlier for oral
treatment of uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum
malaria. IV artesunate is now the only FDA-approved
injectable antimalarial drug available in the US; IV
quinidine has been discontinued.
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • October 7, 2019; (Issue 1582)
Patients who receive pretravel advice can reduce their
risk for many travel-related conditions. Vaccines recommended
for travelers are reviewed in a separate...
Patients who receive pretravel advice can reduce their
risk for many travel-related conditions. Vaccines recommended
for travelers are reviewed in a separate issue.
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • July 1, 2019; (Issue 1575)
The oral antimalarial tafenoquine succinate, a long-acting
analog of primaquine, has been approved by
the FDA in 2 different strengths. Arakoda (100-mg
tablets; Sixty Degrees) is indicated for the...
The oral antimalarial tafenoquine succinate, a long-acting
analog of primaquine, has been approved by
the FDA in 2 different strengths. Arakoda (100-mg
tablets; Sixty Degrees) is indicated for the prophylaxis
of malaria in adults. Krintafel (150-mg tablets; GSK) is
indicated for the prevention of relapse (radical cure)
of Plasmodium vivax malaria in patients ≥16 years old
undergoing treatment for acute P. vivax infection.
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • April 13, 2015; (Issue 1466)
Patients planning to travel to other countries often
ask for information about prevention of diarrhea,
malaria, and other travel-related conditions. Vaccines
recommended for travelers based on their...
Patients planning to travel to other countries often
ask for information about prevention of diarrhea,
malaria, and other travel-related conditions. Vaccines
recommended for travelers based on their destination,
length of stay, and planned activities were reviewed in
a previous issue.
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • June 1, 2012; (Issue 118)
Patients planning to travel to other countries often ask
for information about appropriate vaccines and prevention
of diarrhea and malaria. More detailed advice for
travelers is available from the Centers...
Patients planning to travel to other countries often ask
for information about appropriate vaccines and prevention
of diarrhea and malaria. More detailed advice for
travelers is available from the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC) at www.cdc.gov/travel.
Guidelines are also available from the Infectious
Diseases Society of America (IDSA).
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • November 1, 2009; (Issue 87)
Patients planning to travel to other countries often ask physicians for information about appropriate vaccines and prevention of diarrhea and malaria. Guidelines are also available from the Infectious Diseases...
Patients planning to travel to other countries often ask physicians for information about appropriate vaccines and prevention of diarrhea and malaria. Guidelines are also available from the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA).
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • May 19, 2008; (Issue 1286)
The drug of choice for patients who require parenteral treatment for malaria is IV artesunate, which is available now from the CDC Malaria Branch (M-F, 8 AM-4:30 PM eastern time, 770-488-7788 or, after hours,...
The drug of choice for patients who require parenteral treatment for malaria is IV artesunate, which is available now from the CDC Malaria Branch (M-F, 8 AM-4:30 PM eastern time, 770-488-7788 or, after hours, 770-488-7100). Artesunate appears to be more effective than quinine1 and safer than quinidine, the other parenteral alternatives in the US. The CDC has supplies of artesunate in Atlanta and in 8 quarantine stations in major airports around the US. It will release the drug for appropriate patients (severe disease or unable to take oral drugs) if it can be supplied as quickly as quinidine, or if quinidine has failed, been poorly tolerated, or is contraindicated.
The herbal artemisinin derivatives artemether and artesunate are used worldwide for treatment of malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum, but have not been marketed in the US.2,3 About 1500 cases of malaria are diagnosed each year in the US in returning travelers, and about 5% of these have severe disease.4
Artesunate is generally given over 3 days in 2.4 mg/kg doses at 0, 12, 24 and 48 hours. It should be accompanied as soon as possible by an oral drug such as atovaquone/proguanil (Malarone), doxycycline (Vibramycin, and others; not for children <8 years old), clindamycin (Cleocin, and others) or mefloquine (Lariam, and others).
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • May 1, 2006; (Issue 45)
Patients planning to travel to other countries often ask physicians for information about immunizations and prevention of diarrhea and malaria. More detailed advice for travelers is available from the Centers...
Patients planning to travel to other countries often ask physicians for information about immunizations and prevention of diarrhea and malaria. More detailed advice for travelers is available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at 877-FYI-TRIP (877-394-8747) or www.cdc.gov/travel.
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • December 5, 2005; (Issue 1223)
Many patients planning to travel seek advice about prevention of malaria. No drug is 100% effective for this indication; travelers should be told to take other protective measures as well. Malaria in pregnancy...
Many patients planning to travel seek advice about prevention of malaria. No drug is 100% effective for this indication; travelers should be told to take other protective measures as well. Malaria in pregnancy is particularly serious for both mother and fetus; prophylaxis is indicated if travel cannot be avoided. Countries with a risk of malaria are listed in the table on page 102. Some countries with endemic malaria transmission may not have malaria in the most frequently visited major cities and rural tourist resorts.
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • August 16, 2004; (Issue 1189)
Parasitic infections are found throughout the world. With increasing travel, immigration, use of immunosuppressive drugs and the spread of AIDS, physicians anywhere may see infections caused by previously...
Parasitic infections are found throughout the world. With increasing travel, immigration, use of immunosuppressive drugs and the spread of AIDS, physicians anywhere may see infections caused by previously unfamiliar parasites. The table below lists first-choice and alternative drugs for most parasitic infections. The brand names and manufacturers of the drugs are listed in this article.
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • May 1, 2004; (Issue 21)
Patients planning to travel to other countries often ask physicians for advice about immunizations and prevention of diarrhea and malaria. More detailed advice for travelers is available from the Centers for...
Patients planning to travel to other countries often ask physicians for advice about immunizations and prevention of diarrhea and malaria. More detailed advice for travelers is available from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) at 877-FYI-TRIP (877-394-8747) or www.cdc.gov/travel. Recommendations for the treatment of parasitic diseases are available in the public reading room of The Medical Letter's web site.
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • April 15, 2002; (Issue 1128)
Patients planning to travel to other countries often ask physicians for advice about immunizations and prevention of diarrhea and malaria. More detailed advice for travelers is available from the CDC at...
Patients planning to travel to other countries often ask physicians for advice about immunizations and prevention of diarrhea and malaria. More detailed advice for travelers is available from the CDC at 877-FYI-TRIP (877-394-8747) or www.cdc.gov/travel.
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • April 1, 2002; (Issue 1127)
Superseded--purchase updated Parasitic Infections articleParasitic infections are found throughout the world. With increasing travel, immigration, use of immunosuppressive drugs and the spread of AIDS,...
Superseded--purchase updated Parasitic Infections article Parasitic infections are found throughout the world. With increasing travel, immigration, use of immunosuppressive drugs and the spread of AIDS, physicians anywhere may see infections caused by previously unfamiliar parasites.
Note: Drugs for Parasitic Infections, revised and updated, is now available to both subscribers and nonsubscribers on our web site. This article, a bi-annual feature of The Medical Letter for many years, will not be published as a printed issue in 2002, but is included in the 16th edition of The Medical Letter Handbook of Antimicrobial Therapy. The handbook is now available and can be ordered by calling customer service at 1-800-211-2769.
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • November 27, 2000; (Issue 1093)
A fixed-dose combination of atovaquone and proguanil hydrochloride has been approved by the FDA for oral prophylaxis and treatment of malaria due to Plasmodium falciparum, including choloroquine-resistant...
A fixed-dose combination of atovaquone and proguanil hydrochloride has been approved by the FDA for oral prophylaxis and treatment of malaria due to Plasmodium falciparum, including choloroquine-resistant strains.
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • January 24, 2000; (Issue 1070)
Patients planning to travel often ask for advice on prophylaxis against malaria. None of the antimalarials used in the past for prophylaxis has been entirely...
Patients planning to travel often ask for advice on prophylaxis against malaria. None of the antimalarials used in the past for prophylaxis has been entirely satisfactory.