Atovaquone oral
- Drugs List
- Therapeutic Indications
- Dosage
- Contraindications
- Precautions and Warnings
- Pregnancy and Lactation
- Side Effects
- Monograph
Presentation
Oral formulations of atovaquone.
Drugs List
Therapeutic Indications
Uses
Mild-mod Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia in pts intolerant of cotrimoxazole
Unlicensed Uses
Prophylaxis of pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia in immunodeficiency
Dosage
Adults
Treatment of Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia
750mg twice a day for twenty one days.
Prophylaxis against Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (unlicensed)
750mg twice a day.
Children
Treatment of Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (unlicensed)
Children aged 2 to 18 years
15mg/kg to 20mg/kg (up to 750mg per dose) twice a day for fourteen to twenty one days.
Children aged 3 months to 2 years
22.5mg/kg twice a day for fourteen to twenty one days.
Children aged 1 to 3 months
15mg/kg to 20mg/kg twice a day for fourteen to twenty one days.
Contraindications
Neonates under 1 month
Breastfeeding
Precautions and Warnings
Children 1 month to 18 years
Diarrhoea
Elderly
Hepatic impairment
Pregnancy
Pulmonary disease
Renal impairment
Contains benzyl alcohol
Take with food - particularly high fat food
Monitor patients with hepatic impairment
Monitor patients with renal impairment
Diarrhoea at start of treatment lowers absorption - consider alternative
Inability to take with food lowers absorption - consider alternative
Patients with pulmonary disease should be evaluated for other causes of disease (other than PCP). Additional agents should be administered as required.
The manufacturer states that use in children under 3 years (unlicensed) should be restricted to one week or less due to risk of accumulation of benzyl alcohol.
Pregnancy and Lactation
Pregnancy
Use atovaquone with caution during pregnancy.
The manufacturer does not recommend using atovaquone in pregnancy unless the benefit of treatment to the mother would outweigh the risk to the foetus. At the time of writing there is limited published information regarding the use of atovaquone during pregnancy. Potential risks are unknown.
Lactation
Atovaquone is contraindicated in breastfeeding.
Use of atovaquone when breastfeeding is contraindicated by the manufacturer. The presence of atovaquone in human breast milk is unknown. Effects on exposed infants are unknown.
Side Effects
Anaemia
Angioedema
Bronchospasm
Diarrhoea
Elevated amylase levels
Erythema multiforme
Fever
Headache
Hypersensitivity reactions
Hyponatraemia
Increases in hepatic enzymes
Insomnia
Nausea
Neutropenia
Pruritus
Rash
Stevens-Johnson syndrome
Throat tightness
Urticaria
Vomiting
Overdosage
It is strongly recommended that the UK National Poisons Information Service be consulted on cases of suspected or actual overdose where there is doubt over the degree of risk or about appropriate management.
The following number will direct the caller to the relevant local centre (0844) 892 0111
Information may be obtained if you have access to ToxBase the primary clinical toxicology database of the National Poisons Information Service. This is available via password on the internet ( www.toxbase.org ) or if this is unavailable at the backup site ( www.toxbasebackup.org ).
Further Information
Last Full Review Date: January 2023
Reference Sources
Summary of Product Characteristics: Wellvone 750mg/5ml oral suspension. GlaxoSmithKline UK. Revised July 2022.
NICE Evidence Services Available at: www.nice.org.uk Last accessed: 23 January 2023
Medscape UK | Univadis prescription drug monographs & interactions are based on FDB Multilex Content
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