Pyrimethamine+sulphadoxine
About Pyrimethamine+sulphadoxine
Pyrimethamine+sulphadoxine is an antimalarial medicine used to treat malaria. Malaria is a parasitic disease caused by the Plasmodium species. The infection occurs when a mosquito bites and enters the human body. Pyrimethamine+sulphadoxine is also used to treat toxoplasmosis (an infection caused by the parasite Toxoplasma gondii).
Pyrimethamine+sulphadoxine contains Pyrimethamine and Sulphadoxine as active ingredients. Pyrimethamine kills the parasite and stops the infection from spreading. Sulphadoxine helps prevent the parasite from producing folinic acid, which is necessary for its multiplication.
Pyrimethamine+sulphadoxine may cause certain side effects such as nausea, dizziness, vomiting, headache, diarrhoea, anorexia, body pain, and stomach discomfort. If these side effects persist, inform your doctor immediately. Pyrimethamine+sulphadoxine should be taken as advised by your doctor.
Pyrimethamine+sulphadoxine should be avoided if you are allergic to it or any other artemisinin derivatives. Before taking $ name, inform your doctor if you have/had any conditions such as anaemia, liver/kidney disease, heart problem, or are taking any other medicines, as it may cause serious side effects under these conditions. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, inform your doctor before taking Pyrimethamine+sulphadoxine.
Uses of Pyrimethamine+sulphadoxine
Medicinal Benefits
Pyrimethamine+sulphadoxine is a combination medicine containing Pyrimethamine and Sulphadoxine as active ingredients. Pyrimethamine works by increasing the harmful, toxic, and highly reactive free radicals in the blood. This kills the parasite and stops the infection from spreading. Sulphadoxine helps prevent the parasite from producing folinic acid, which is necessary for their multiplication. Pyrimethamine+sulphadoxine is used to prevent the relapse of malaria caused by plasmodium species.
Directions for Use
Storage
Side Effects of Pyrimethamine+sulphadoxine
- Vomiting
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Abdominal pain
- Weakness
- Nausea
- Anorexia
- Tiredness
Drug Warnings
Avoid using Pyrimethamine+sulphadoxine if you are allergic to it or any other artemisinin derivatives. Inform your doctor if you have/had any conditions such as liver/kidney disease, heart problems, or taking any other medicines before receiving Pyrimethamine+sulphadoxine as it may cause serious side effects under these conditions. Pyrimethamine+sulphadoxine is recommended for use in children only if prescribed by the paediatrician, and if administered, proper care and dosing should be checked. This medicine is contraindicated in patients with folic acid deficiency. It is advised not to use Pyrimethamine+sulphadoxine for more than two years. Avoid driving and operating machines until you are alert.
Drug Interactions
Drug-Drug Interactions: Pyrimethamine+sulphadoxine may interact with antacids and many other medicines. Hence, inform your doctor on priority.
Drug-Food Interactions: No interactions found.
Drug-Disease Interactions: Pyrimethamine+sulphadoxine should be used with caution in patients with severe liver and kidney failure, gastrointestinal system (gut), and heart problems.
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
consult your doctorThe interaction of Pyrimethamine+sulphadoxine with alcohol is unknown. Please consult your doctor.
Pregnancy
cautionIf you are pregnant or planning pregnancy, inform your doctor before receiving Pyrimethamine+sulphadoxine. Your doctor may prescribe this medicine if the benefits outweigh the risks.
Breast Feeding
unsafePyrimethamine is excreted in human milk. Therefore, if you are breastfeeding, inform your doctor before receiving Pyrimethamine+sulphadoxine. Your doctor may prescribe this medicine if the benefits outweigh the risks.
Driving
unsafePyrimethamine+sulphadoxine may decrease alertness or make you feel sleepy and dizzy. So, do not drive or operate heavy machinery after taking Pyrimethamine+sulphadoxine until you are alert.
Liver
cautionPyrimethamine+sulphadoxine should be used with caution if you have a pre-existing or a history of liver disease. Your doctor may adjust the dose based on your condition.
Kidney
cautionPyrimethamine+sulphadoxine should be used with caution if you have a pre-existing or a history of kidney disease. Your doctor may adjust the dose based on your condition.
Children
consult your doctorPlease consult your doctor. Your child's doctor will decide the dose of this medicine based on the age and condition of the child.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- It is important to allow the patient to eat regularly in small amounts to tolerate the food.
- Try to add protein to your diet for malaria-induced weight loss.
- Eating at the right time and getting proper rest is important for the patient to recover.
- Avoid eating fried and processed foods, and junk oily and spicy foods can aggravate nausea and disturb the body's digestion process.
- Eat nutritious food that helps to improve malaria-induced weakness.
- Keep your area and surroundings mosquito-free. Use mosquito-repellent products to avoid the recurrence of infections and any other further complications.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Malaria: It is a life-threatening parasitic disease caused by mosquito bites. When the mosquito bites, the plasmodium parasite enters the body, multiplies in the liver, spreads via the bloodstream and thus causes the infection by releasing toxic chemicals. Symptoms may include chills, on-and-off fever, sweating, vomiting, etc.
Toxoplasmosis: It is an infection caused by parasites toxoplasma gondii found in contaminated food and cat faeces. It can cause serious complications for pregnant women, such as miscarriage, stillbirths, and damage to the baby’s brain and other organs, particularly the eyes, at birth or early childhood, and people with weakened immune systems. Symptoms include muscle pain, fever, headache, etc.
FAQs
Pyrimethamine+sulphadoxine is used to treat Malaria and Toxoplasmosis.
Pyrimethamine+sulphadoxine contains Pyrimethamine (which kills the parasite and stops the infection from spreading) and Sulphadoxine (which helps prevent the parasite from producing folinic acid, which is necessary for their multiplication).
No, do not stop taking Pyrimethamine+sulphadoxine. It is recommended to take this medicine for the entire prescribed duration, even when symptoms improve or resolve. Failure to do so might result in drug resistance, and treating any subsequent infection with the same medicine would be very difficult.
