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Atovaquone / Proguanil Coupon - Atovaquone / Proguanil 250mg/100mg tablet

atovaquone / proguanil

Generic Malarone
Used for Malaria
Used for Malaria

Malarone (atovaquone / proguanil) is a CDC-recommended medication to help prevent and treat malaria. This combination medication is taken by mouth once per day. It doesn't have many side effects and can be used in children and adults.

Reviewed by:
reviewer
Robert Chad Hakim, PharmD, BCCCP
reviewer
Allison Gourley, PharmD
Last reviewed on April 3, 2023
BasicsSide effectsPros & consPharmacist tipsFAQsWarningsDosageInteractionsCostContraindicationsAlternativesLatest newsImagesReferencesPricesMedicare
basics-icon

What is Malarone (atovaquone / proguanil)?

What is Malarone (atovaquone / proguanil) used for?

  • Prevention and treatment of malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum species

How Malarone (atovaquone / proguanil) works

Malarone (atovaquone / proguanil) is a combination of two medications that work together to stop malaria from growing in your body.

  • Atovaquone works by stopping the malaria parasite from being able to make energy for itself. Without energy, the malaria parasite dies off.

  • Proguanil is thought to work by boosting atovaquone's effect on the malaria parasite.

Are you looking for information on atovaquone (Mepron) instead?

Drug Facts

Common BrandsMalarone
Drug ClassAntimalarial
Controlled Substance ClassificationNot a controlled medication
Generic StatusLower-cost generic available
AvailabilityPrescription only
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What are the side effects of Malarone (atovaquone / proguanil)?

The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.

Common Side Effects

  • Stomach pain
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Low appetite
  • Headache
  • Weakness
  • Dizziness

Other Side Effects

  • Cough
  • Mouth sores
  • Vivid dreams

Serious Side Effects

Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.
  • Liver problems: swelling of your stomach, yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes, confusion, dark or brown urine

Source: DailyMed

The following side effects have also been reported

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur:

Incidence not known

Blistering, peeling, loosening of skin

chills

convulsions

difficulty swallowing

fast heartbeat

hives or welts

increased sensitivity of skin to sunlight

itching, redness or other discoloration of skin

joint or muscle pain

large, hive-like swelling on face, eyelids, lips, tongue, throat, hands, legs, feet, sex organs

loss of bladder control

muscle spasm or jerking of all extremities

puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue

rash

red, irritated eyes

red skin lesions, often with a purple center

seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there

severe mental changes

severe sunburn

shortness of breath

skin rash

sores, ulcers or white spots in mouth or on lips

sudden loss of consciousness

tightness in chest

unusual tiredness or weakness

wheezing

Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

More common

Abdominal pain

back pain

coughing

diarrhea

dreams

fever

headache

itching skin

lack of or loss of strength

nausea

muscle pain

sore throat

sores in mouth

sneezing

vomiting

Less common

Acid or sour stomach

belching

blurred or loss of vision

disturbed color perception

dizziness

double vision

flu like symptoms

halos around lights

heartburn

indigestion

loss of appetite

night blindness

overbright appearance of lights

sleeplessness

stomach discomfort, upset or pain

trouble sleeping

tunnel vision

unable to sleep

weight loss

Rare

Discouragement

fear

feeling sad or empty

irritability

lack of appetite

loss of interest or pleasure

nervousness

trouble concentrating

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

pros-and-cons

Pros and cons of Malarone (atovaquone / proguanil)

thumbs-up

Pros

Works well for preventing and treating malaria

Can use for traveling to areas known to have resistance to chloroquine, another antimalarial medication

Good choice for shorter trips because you only have to take it for 1 more week after leaving from the malaria area, rather than for 4 more weeks with other malaria medications (e.g., mefloquine, chloroquine)

Has relatively few side effects

thumbs-down

Cons

Not the best choice for people with severe kidney or liver problems

Not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding females

Taken once per day (compared to other antimalarial medications that are taken once per week)

pharmacist-tips

Pharmacist tips for Malarone (atovaquone / proguanil)

pharmacist

  • Review your travel itinerary and see if you need to take preventative medication for malaria, like Malarone (atovaquone / proguanil), before traveling.

    • Malarone (atovaquone / proguanil) is available in two strengths: an adult tablet (containing 250 mg of atovaquone and 100 mg of proguanil) and a children's tablet (containing 62.5 mg of atovaquone and 25 mg of proguanil). An adult or child can be prescribed either tablet strength depending on the dose. Make sure you know which strength you have and how many tablets you need to take.

      • Take Malarone (atovaquone / proguanil) with food or a milk-based drink around the same time every day. If you vomit within 1 hour of taking the medication, you should take another dose. If vomiting or diarrhea continues to be a problem while taking Malarone (atovaquone / proguanil), contact your provider. You might need nausea medication or get switched to another antimalarial medication.

        • If you have trouble swallowing the Malarone (atovaquone / proguanil) tablets, you can crush the tablets and mix with condensed milk before taking it.

          • Malarone (atovaquone / proguanil) might cause vivid dreams. If the dreams bother you, let your healthcare provider know.

            • You should still practice other preventative measures while taking Malarone (atovaquone / proguanil) to lower your risk for malaria as much as possible. Some measures include wearing long-sleeved clothing and using bug spray.

              • Take Malarone (atovaquone / proguanil) exactly as prescribed to you and finish your entire course. Stopping the medication earlier than prescribed raises your chances of getting infected if you're taking it for prevention. If you're taking the medication to treat a malaria infection, stopping it too early might make your infection come back and be harder to treat.

                • Get medical attention if you notice any unusual fever or illness after returning from your trip abroad. While medications, like Malarone (atovaquone / proguanil), work well to prevent malaria, there's still a chance that you might get infected.

                  faqs

                  Frequently asked questions about Malarone (atovaquone / proguanil)

                  Why is it important to take Malarone (atovaquone / proguanil) if I'm prescribed it?
                  If you're prescribed Malarone (atovaquone / proguanil), it's important to take it to either help prevent or treat malaria, a potentially life-threatening parasitic infection. While anyone can get malaria, most cases happen in people who are traveling to areas where malaria is common, such as countries in Africa south of the Sahara desert. Usually, you can get malaria through a mosquito bite. Typical symptoms of malaria include fever, chills, and muscle aches. More serious symptoms include anemia (low red blood cell count), kidney failure, confusion, and seizures, if not treated in time. If you're prescribed Malarone (atovaquone / proguanil) for malaria prevention or treatment, make sure to take it exactly as prescribed.
                  Is Malarone (atovaquone / proguanil) guaranteed to prevent malaria if I take it?
                  No, it isn't guaranteed that taking Malarone (atovaquone / proguanil) (or any other preventative malaria medication) will completely prevent malaria. This is because there are several risk factors that affect your chances of getting infected. Malarone (atovaquone / proguanil) has been well studied and shown to work well at preventing (and treating) malaria. But it's also important to still practice other preventative measures while taking Malarone (atovaquone / proguanil) to lower your risk for malaria. Some suggestions include wearing long-sleeved clothing and using bug spray.
                  Is Malarone (atovaquone / proguanil) the same as atovaquone (Mepron)?
                  No. Both medications are used for completely different infections, so you can't substitute one for the other. Malarone (atovaquone / proguanil) is used for malaria, whereas atovaquone (Mepron) is used for a fungal infection called Pneumocystis pneumonia. These medications contain atovaquone at completely different dosages, and Malarone (atovaquone / proguanil) also contains proguanil.
                  Can I use Malarone (atovaquone / proguanil) if I have severe kidney or liver problems?
                  People with severe kidney problems shouldn't use Malarone (atovaquone / proguanil) for malaria prevention because of the risk of a dangerous drop in blood cell count. But if the benefits outweigh the risks, Malarone (atovaquone / proguanil) could be considered an option to treat malaria. Additionally, people with mild or moderate liver problems can take Malarone (atovaquone / proguanil). But we don't know if it's safe for people with severe liver problems because the medication hasn't been studied in this group of people. It's also important to note that Malarone (atovaquone / proguanil) can cause liver problems. Make sure to tell your provider if you have liver or kidney problems before taking Malarone (atovaquone / proguanil). Your provider can discuss the risks and benefits of the medication with you.
                  Can I use Malarone (atovaquone / proguanil) if I'm pregnant or breastfeeding?
                  If you're pregnant, thinking of becoming pregnant, or breastfeeding, speak with your provider about the risks and benefits of taking Malarone (atovaquone / proguanil) and traveling to an area with high likelihood of malaria. It's not completely known whether it's safe to take Malarone (atovaquone / proguanil) during pregnancy because study findings haven't been consistent so far. Similarly, we're not sure what effects Malarone (atovaquone / proguanil) might have on breastfed babies if you take the medication while nursing. The CDC recommends that pregnant and breastfeeding women should avoid taking Malarone (atovaquone / proguanil) unless other medications can't be used and the benefits clearly outweigh the risks. In general, the CDC also recommends that pregnant women shouldn't travel to areas with high likelihood of malaria if possible. This is because the infection can be very severe during pregnancy and raise the risk of serious pregnancy problems. Make sure to tell your provider if you're pregnant or breastfeeding before starting Malarone (atovaquone / proguanil).
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                  What are the risks and warnings for Malarone (atovaquone / proguanil)?

                  Malarone (atovaquone / proguanil) can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.

                  risk-warning

                  Worsening infection

                  Depending on the specific type of malaria parasite you're infected with, Malarone (atovaquone / proguanil) might not work as well to treat your malaria. This can cause your malaria infection to worsen or come back. Talk to your provider if your malaria symptoms (e.g., fever, chills, headache, etc.) come back after finishing your Malarone (atovaquone / proguanil) treatment course.

                  risk-warning

                  Liver damage

                  • Risk factors: History of liver problems

                    Malarone (atovaquone / proguanil) can cause or worsen liver problems that can sometimes lead to liver failure. Your provider might order blood tests to check your liver health before and after treatment, depending on what medical conditions you have. Get medical attention right away if you notice symptoms of liver problems, such as swelling of your stomach; stomach pain; yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes; stool changes (black, tarry, or bloody stools); nausea; vomiting; or dark or brown urine. You might need to stop taking Malarone (atovaquone / proguanil) to prevent further liver damage.

                    dosage

                    Malarone (atovaquone / proguanil) dosage forms

                    The average cost for 30 tablets of 250mg/100mg of Malarone (atovaquone / proguanil) is $207.74 with a free GoodRx coupon. This is 24.28% off the average retail price of $274.35.
                    tablet
                    Tablet
                    DosageQuantityPrice as low asPrice per unit
                    62.5mg/25mg30 tablets$80.38$2.68
                    250mg/100mg30 tablets$207.74$6.92

                    Typical dosing for Malarone (atovaquone / proguanil)

                    Malarone (atovaquone / proguanil) is available in two strengths.

                    • Adult tablet contains 250 mg of atovaquone and 100 mg of proguanil

                    • Children's tablet contains 62.5 mg of atovaquone and 25 mg of proguanil

                    For malaria prevention: Typically, you'll start Malarone (atovaquone / proguanil) 1 to 2 days before you enter an area with malaria, and then continue taking the medication throughout your stay. After you leave from this area, you'll need to take Malarone (atovaquone / proguanil) for 7 more days.

                    Adults: The typical dose is 1 adult tablet by mouth once per day.

                    Children: Your child's provider will determine the right dose based on your child's body weight.

                    • 24 lbs to 45 lbs: The typical dose is 1 children's tablet by mouth once per day.

                    • 46 lbs to 67 lbs: The typical dose is 2 children's tablets by mouth once per day.

                    • 68 lbs to 88 lbs: The typical dose is 3 children's tablets by mouth once per day.

                    • More than 88 lbs: The typical dose is 1 adult tablet by mouth once per day.

                    For malaria treatment:

                    Adults: The typical dose is 4 adult tablets by mouth once per day for 3 days.

                    Children: Your child's provider will determine the right dose based on your child's body weight.

                    • 11 lbs to 19 lbs: The typical dose is 2 children's tablets by mouth once per day for 3 days.

                    • 20 lbs to 23 lbs: The typical dose is 3 children's tablets by mouth once per day for 3 days.

                    • 24 lbs to 45 lbs: The typical dose is 1 adult tablet by mouth once per day for 3 days.

                    • 46 lbs to 67 lbs: The typical dose is 2 adult tablets by mouth once per day for 3 days.

                    • 68 lbs to 88 lbs: The typical dose is 3 adult tablets by mouth once per day for 3 days.

                    • More than 88 lbs: The typical dose is 4 adult tablets by mouth once per day for 3 days.

                    interactions

                    Interactions between Malarone (atovaquone / proguanil) and other drugs

                    Malarone (atovaquone / proguanil) may interact with certain medications or supplements. Always let your doctor and pharmacist know about any other medications or supplements (including prescribed and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and dietary or herbal supplements) that you are currently taking. The list below does not include all possible drug interactions with Malarone (atovaquone / proguanil). Please note that only the generic name of each medication is listed below.

                    Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

                    Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

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                    How much does Malarone (atovaquone / proguanil) cost?

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                    contraindications-icon

                    Malarone (atovaquone / proguanil) contraindications

                    Contraindications are specific health conditions or situations in which a person should not take a medication due to safety concerns. If you have any of the following conditions or if any of the following apply to you, let your healthcare provider know because Malarone (atovaquone / proguanil) will not be safe for you to take.

                    • Severe allergy to atovaquone or proguanil

                    • Prevention of malaria in people with severe kidney problems

                    alternatives

                    What are alternatives to Malarone (atovaquone / proguanil)?

                    There are a number of medications that your doctor can prescribe in place of Malarone (atovaquone / proguanil). Compare a few possible alternatives below.
                    Malarone (atovaquone / proguanil)
                    Used for:

                    • Prevention and treatment of malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum species

                    $80.38 Lowest GoodRx priceView Prices
                    Chloroquine
                    Used for:

                    • Treatment of uncomplicated malaria

                    • Prevention of malaria in areas of the world where there's no Malarone (atovaquone / proguanil) resistance

                    • Extraintestinal amebiasis (a type of parasitic infection)

                    $55.11 Lowest GoodRx priceView Prices
                    Coartem (artemether / lumefantrine)
                    Used for:

                    • Treatment of malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum in people 2 months of age or older who weigh at least 5 kg (11 pounds)

                    $138.33 Lowest GoodRx priceView Prices
                    images

                    Malarone (atovaquone / proguanil) images

                    Tan Round M And A-P 2 - Atovaquone / Proguanil Hydrochloride 250mg-100mg Tablet
                    This medicine is Tan, Round Tablet Imprinted With "M" And "A-P 2".Tan Round M And A-P 2 - Atovaquone / Proguanil Hydrochloride 250mg-100mg Tablet
                    Pink Round Gx Cm3 - Atovaquone / Proguanil Hydrochloride 250mg-100mg Tablet
                    This medicine is Pink, Round Tablet Imprinted With "Gx Cm3".Pink Round Gx Cm3 - Atovaquone / Proguanil Hydrochloride 250mg-100mg Tablet
                    Brown Round G And 404 - Atovaquone / Proguanil Hydrochloride 250mg-100mg Tablet
                    This medicine is Brown, Round Tablet Imprinted With "G" And "404".Brown Round G And 404 - Atovaquone / Proguanil Hydrochloride 250mg-100mg Tablet

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                    References

                    Best studies we found

                    BluePoint Laboratories. (2022). Atovaquone and proguanil hydrochloride- atovaquone and proguanil hydrochloride tablet, film coated [package insert]. DailyMed.

                    Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023). Pregnant travelers.

                    Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024). Appendix A: Malaria in the United States: Treatment tables.

                    View All References (13)

                    Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024). Choosing a drug to prevent malaria.

                    Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024). Drug resistance in the malaria-endemic world.

                    Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024). How malaria spreads.

                    Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024). Malaria information and prophylaxis, by country [A].

                    Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024). Malaria risk assessment for travelers.

                    Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024). Pneumocystis pneumonia basics.

                    Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024). Preventing malaria while traveling.

                    Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024). Where malaria occurs.

                    National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. (2022). What is anemia?

                    National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. (n.d.). Liver disease.

                    Nixon, G. L., et al. (2013). Antimalarial pharmacology and therapeutics of atovaquone. The Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy.

                    Srivastava, I. K., et al. (1999). A mechanism for the synergistic antimalarial action of atovaquone and proguanil. Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy.

                    World Health Organization. (2023). Malaria.

                    GoodRx Health has strict sourcing policies and relies on primary sources such as medical organizations, governmental agencies, academic institutions, and peer-reviewed scientific journals. Learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate, thorough, and unbiased by reading our editorial guidelines.
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