Atovaquone

Administration

• Type: Antimicrobial (active against Pneumocystis jirovecii, Babesiosis, Toxoplasmosis, Malaria)
• Dosage Forms: tablet, oral suspion
• Dosage Strengths: tablet: 250mg; oral suspension: 750mg/5mL
• Routes of Administration: PO
• Common Trade Names: Mepron

Adult Dosing

Indications by Disease

Disease	Dose	Context
Babesiosis	750mg BID x 10 days	Mild parasitemia less than 4 percent option 1

Special Populations

• Pregnancy Rating: C
• Lactation risk: Infant risk cannot be ruled out
• Renal dosing: atovaquone/proguanil contraindicated in severe renal failure for malaria prophylaxis, otherwise no adjustment
• Hepatic dosing: no adjustment

Contraindications

• Allergy to class/drug

Adverse Reactions

Serious

• SJS, erythema multiforme
• Methemoglobinemia
• Hepatitis, liver failure

Common

• Nausea/vomiting, diarrhea
• Rash
• Headache, insomnia
• Fever
• Cough, rhinitis

Pharmacology

• Half-life: 2.2-3.2 days
• Metabolism: undergoes enterohepatic recirculation
• Excretion: Fecal

Mechanism of Action

• Unclear mechanism; structurally similar to ubiquonone, which inhibits cytochromal electron transport in Plasmodia species