Daraprim (pyrimethamine)
Last reviewed · Source: First Databank (FDB) drug data
Overview
Pyrimethamine, a folic acid antagonist anti-infective, is used as an antimalarial and antiprotozoal agent.
USES: This medication is used with other medication (such as a sulfonamide) to treat a serious parasite infection (toxoplasmosis) of the body, brain, or eye or to prevent toxoplasmosis infection in people with HIV infection. Pyrimethamine belongs to a class of drugs known as antiparasitics. It works by killing parasites.
Generic name: pyrimethamine
Pronunciation: (pir-ih-METH-uh-meen)
Reference product & biosimilars
No reference, biosimilar or interchangeable associated with this drug.
Today’s intelligence on Daraprim
Indications
The following indications are listed for Daraprim:
- Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome With Toxoplasmosis
- Encephalitis Due To Toxoplasmosis
- Toxoplasmosis
Also known as: Encephalitis Due To Toxoplasma Gondii.
Dosing
No dosing information is available for this tab.
Pyrimethamine is administered orally.
If anorexia or vomiting occur during pyrimethamine therapy, these adverse GI effects may be minimized by taking the drug with meals.
For administration in children unable to swallow tablets whole, an oral suspension of pyrimethamine can be prepared by crushing pyrimethamine tablets and suspending the drug in water, cherry syrup, or sucrose-containing solutions. (See Chemistry and Stability: Stability.) These oral suspensions should be shaken prior to administration.
No dosing information is available for this tab.
No dosing information is available for this tab.
Drug interactions
There is no enhanced messaging for this drug.
There are no contraindication interactions for this drug.
There are no severe interactions for this drug.
There are no moderate interactions for this drug.
Contraindications
There is no enhanced messaging for this drug.
There are no contraindication contraindications for this drug.
There are no severe contraindications for this drug.
There are no moderate contraindications for this drug.
Adverse reactions
There is no enhanced messaging for this drug.
There are no severe adverse reactions for this drug.
There are no less severe adverse reactions for this drug.
Precautions
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No enhanced messaging available.
Pyrimethamine has been shown to be teratogenic in rats, hamsters, and miniature pigs. There are no adequate and controlled studies to date in humans. The manufacturer states that pyrimethamine should be used during pregnancy only if potential benefits justify the potential risk to the fetus. If pyrimethamine is administered during pregnancy for the treatment of toxoplasmosis, concurrent administration of leucovorin is strongly recommended. Women of childbearing potential should be warned against becoming pregnant while receiving pyrimethamine.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Institutes of Health (NIH), and HIV Medicine Association of the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) state that, although pyrimethamine has been associated with birth defects in animals, human data have not suggested an increased risk for defects and the drug can be administered to pregnant women after the first trimester. These experts state that recommended treatment of Toxoplasma gondii encephalitis in pregnant women, including the use of pyrimethamine, should be the same as that for nonpregnant adults.
Pyrimethamine administered orally to rats in dosages 7 times the usual human dosage for prevention of malaria or 2.5 time the human dosage for treatment of toxoplasmosis was teratogenic and caused increases in abnormalities such as cleft palate, bradygnathia, oligodactyly, and microphthalmia. Pyrimethamine also caused meningocele in hamsters and cleft palate in miniature pigs when given in oral dosages 170 or 5 times the human dosage for prevention of malaria or treatment of toxoplasmosis, respectively.
Pyrimethamine is distributed into milk. It is estimated that approximately 3-4 mg of the drug would be ingested by a nursing infant over the first 48-hour period following administration of a single 75-mg oral dose to the mother.
Because of the potential for serious adverse reactions from pyrimethamine in nursing infants and from concurrent use of a sulfonamide with pyrimethamine for the treatment of toxoplasmosis, a decision should be made whether to discontinue nursing or the drug, taking into account the importance of the drug to the mother.
No enhanced messaging available.
ICD codes
No ICD codes are available for this drug.
Formulary status
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Last reviewed · Source: First Databank (FDB) drug data
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