ATOVAQUONE

(a TOE va kwone) Brand: Mepron

What is the most significant information I must know about atovaquone?

• You must not use this medicine if you are allergic to atovaquone.

• Till using this medicine, speak your doctor if you have liver malady, or a stomach or intestinal disorder.

• Also speak your doctor if you use another medications such as rifabutin (Mycobutin), rifampin (Rifadin, Rifater, Rifamate, Rimactane), a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin), or a seizure medicine such as carbamazepine (Carbatrol, Tegretol), divalproex (Depakote), phenytoin (Dilantin), or valproic acid (Depakene).

• Take atovaquone with a meal for excellent results.

• Take this medicine for the entire length of time predesigned by your doctor. Your symptoms may get better till the infection is completely treated.

• Call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as light bruising or bleeding, fever, flu symptoms, white patches in your mouth or throat, worsening cough, wheezing, trouble breathing, a severe red or peeling skin rash, or jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).

What is atovaquone?

• Atovaquone is a medicine that interferes with the reproduction of protozoa (single-cell organisms) that can reason malady in the body.

• Atovaquone is used to treat or prevent pneumonia caused by a fungal infection called Pneumocystitis carinii (also called Pneumocystis jiroveci).

• Atovaquone may also be used for another purposes not listed in this medicine guide.

What must I discuss with my healthcare provider till taking atovaquone?

• You must not use this medicine if you are allergic to atovaquone.

• If you have determined conditions, you may need a doze adjustment or particular trials to safely take this medicine. Till you take atovaquone, speak your doctor if you have:

· liver malady; or

· a stomach or intestinal disorder.

• FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether atovaquone is deleterious to an unborn child. Till you take atovaquone, speak your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.

• It is not known whether atovaquone passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing child. Do not use this medicine without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

How must I take atovaquone?

• Take this medicine exactly as it was predesigned for you. Do not take the medicine in larger amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label.

• Take atovaquone with a meal for excellent results.

• Shake the liquid medication bottle well just till you measure a doze. To be certain you get the correct doze, measure the liquid with a marked measuring spoon or medication cup, not with a regular table spoon. If you do not have a dose-measuring device, ask your pharmacist for one.

• If you are taking a pre-measured atovaquone doze from a foil pouch, tear open the pouch along the perforated line and take all of the medication in the pouch. You may drink it directly from the pouch or pour it into a spoon or cup till taking.

• Take this medicine for the entire length of time predesigned by your doctor. Your symptoms may get better till the infection is completely treated.

• Store atovaquone at cold room temperature away from moisture and heat. Do not let the medication to freeze.

What happens if I miss a dose?

• Take the missed doze as soon as you remember. If it is nearly time for your following doze, wait before then to take the medication and skip the missed doze. Do not take extra medication to create up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

• Search abnormal medical attention if you think you have used too many of this medicine.

• Symptoms of an atovaquone overdose are not known.

What must I avoid while taking atovaquone?

• Follow your doctor's instructions about any restrictions on food, beverages, or activity while you are using this medication.

What are the possible side effects of atovaquone?

• Get abnormal medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your person, lips, tongue, or throat.

• Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

· light bruising or bleeding, unusual weakness;

· fever, flu symptoms;

· white patches in your mouth or throat;

· worsening cough;

· bronchospasm (wheezing, chest tightness, trouble breathing);

· fever, sore throat, and headache with a severe blistering, peeling, and red skin rash; or

· nausea, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).

• Smaller serious side effects may include:

· mild nausea, vomiting, stomach pain or upset,

· diarrhea, constipation;

· headache;

· weakness, dizziness;

· muscle pain;

· mild skin rash;

· sweating; or

· sleep problems (insomnia).

• This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Speak your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect. You may message side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What another drugs will affect atovaquone?

• Speak your doctor about all another medications you are using, especially:

· carbamazepine (Carbatrol, Tegretol);

· clozapine (Clozaril, FazaClo);

· rifabutin (Mycobutin); or

· rifampin (Rifadin, Rifater, Rifamate, Rimactane).

• This list is not complete and there may be another drugs that can interact with atovaquone. Speak your doctor about all your prescription and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, minerals, herbal commodity, and drugs predesigned by another doctors. Do not start a new medicine without telling your doctor.

Where can I get more information?

• Your pharmacist can provide more information about atovaquone.

Remember, hold this and all another medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medicine only for the indication prescribed.

Disclaim: Each effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses external of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way must be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safety, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the help of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.