Primaquine

Prescription medicineOnly Available By Prescription

Top Generic choice

Strength Pack Size Qty
Strength
7.5mg
Pack Size
Qty
What if I find a lower price with another pharmacy?

We guarantee the lowest price on all of our prescription products. If you find your medications cheaper at any other recognized licensed mail order pharmacy, we will not only match their price, we will beat it by 25% of the difference. It is our 125% price match guarantee!

Example: If you find a product on Canada Drugs Direct for $50.00 and find the same product for $40.00 at another mail order pharmacy, we will provide you with a $12.50 discount, bringing your total to $37.50.

To get the discount please make sure to mention the price match to the customer service team when they call to collect payment for your order. Or call toll free at 1-888-904-8467 to place the order through the phone.

Terms & Conditions of Program

  • Guaranteed lowest price is only valid at the time of sale.
  • We will only match the current advertised price.
  • Products must be identical and in stock at the time of placing an order with a licensed mail order pharmacy. They must be an online Canadian pharmacy with an address in Canada.
  • Products must be authentic in brand and size (same manufacturer, same country of manufacture, same pack size, same strength and same quantity).
  • Products must be new. We cannot match the price of any used, short expiry or expired product.
  • Price match can only be issued over the phone with our customer service team. Please note at this time we cannot offer price matching for the products Ozempic or Saxenda.
What is a Generic Drug?

A generic drug is a copy of the brand-name drug with the same dosage, safety, strength, quality, consumption method, performance, and intended use. Before generics become available on the market, the generic company must prove it has the same active ingredients as the brand-name drug and works in the same way and in the same amount of time in the body.

The only differences between generics and their brand-name counterparts is that generics are less expensive and may look slightly different (eg. different shape or color), as trademarks laws prevent a generic from looking exactly like the brand-name drug.

Generics are less expensive because generic manufacturers don't have to invest large sums of money to develop a drug. When the brand-name patent expires, generic companies can manufacture a copy of the brand-name and sell it at a substantial discount.

Description

Primaquine phosphate is an oral antimalarial and tissue schizonticide indicated for the radical cure (relapse prevention) of Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium ovale malaria, as well as the gametocidal treatment of Plasmodium falciparum to interrupt transmission. Primaquine acts by disrupting the mitochondrial electron transport chain in susceptible parasites, making it effective against the hypnozoite liver stage of P. vivax and P. ovale, which is not targeted by blood-stage antimalarials. It is typically used after completion of a standard course of blood schizonticidal treatment (e.g., chloroquine or artemisinin-based therapy).

Fact Table

Formula

C15H21N3O

License

US FDA; WHO Essential Medicines

Bioavailability

~96% (oral)

Legal status

Prescription only

Chemical Name

8-[(4-Amino-1-methylbutyl)amino]-6-methoxyquinoline

Elimination half-life

~4–9 hours

Dosage (Strength)

7.5 mg, 15 mg, 26.3 mg tablets (as base or phosphate)

Pregnancy

Contraindicated – risk of hemolysis in G6PD-deficient fetus

Brands

Primaquine, generic versions globally

Protein binding

~20%

PubChem CID

4908

MedlinePlus

a682338

ChEBI

CHEBI:8677

ATC code

P01BA03

DrugBank

DB01087

KEGG

D08415

Routes of administration

Oral

Directions

Primaquine is administered orally and should be taken with food to minimize gastrointestinal discomfort.

  • Radical cure of P. vivax or P. ovale:
  • 15 mg base (26.3 mg salt) once daily for 14 days (standard adult dose; some guidelines recommend 30 mg base daily depending on local resistance patterns)
  • Gametocidal treatment of P. falciparum:
  • Single 45 mg base dose (78 mg salt)

Dosage must be adjusted for body weight, age, and G6PD status. Treatment should not begin until glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency is ruled out.

Ingredients

Each tablet contains:

  • Primaquine phosphate 26.3 mg, equivalent to 15 mg primaquine base

Inactive ingredients may include:

  • Lactose monohydrate, microcrystalline cellulose, magnesium stearate, and other standard tablet excipients

Contraindications

Primaquine is contraindicated in:

  • Individuals with G6PD deficiency, due to risk of severe hemolytic anemia
  • Pregnant women (risk to fetus with unknown G6PD status)
  • Breastfeeding women unless infant has confirmed normal G6PD function
  • Known hypersensitivity to primaquine or related compounds

Cautions

Screen for G6PD deficiency prior to starting therapy. Monitor patients for signs of hemolysis, particularly during the first week of therapy. Use with caution in patients with renal or hepatic impairment, and in those with methemoglobinemia, as primaquine may exacerbate oxidative stress. Concomitant use with other hemolytic agents (e.g., dapsone, sulfonamides) may increase risk of hematologic toxicity.

Side Effects

Common and potential side effects include:

  • Gastrointestinal upset (nausea, abdominal cramps)
  • Headache
  • Dizziness
  • Methemoglobinemia (dose-dependent)
  • Hemolytic anemia in G6PD-deficient individuals (may be severe or fatal)
  • Rare: leukopenia, agranulocytosis, hypersensitivity reactions

IMPORTANT NOTE: The information provided above is for general awareness and educational purposes only. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, or replace professional medical or veterinary advice. Always consult your physician, pharmacist, or veterinarian regarding the safety, suitability, and proper use of any medication for yourself or your pet.

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