Key takeaways
Primaquine and Malarone (atovaquone/proguanil) are both antimalarial medications, but they have some key differences. Primaquine is used to treat malaria caused by the *Plasmodium vivax* parasite and is also recommended by the CDC for malaria prevention, although it is not FDA-approved for this purpose. Malarone, on the other hand, is FDA-approved for both the prevention and treatment of malaria caused by the *Plasmodium falciparum* species. Primaquine is taken once daily for 14 days, while Malarone is taken once daily starting 1 to 2 days before entering a malaria area and continuing for 7 days after leaving. Primaquine can cause stomach upset and requires testing for G6PD deficiency before use, whereas Malarone has fewer side effects but is not recommended for people with severe kidney or liver problems. Additionally, Primaquine cannot be used during pregnancy, while Malarone's safety during pregnancy is not well established, and it is generally advised to avoid it unless no other options are available.
