Imitrex Subcutaneous and Primaquine Phosphate

• Generic Name: sumatriptan
• Dosage Forms: tablet, film coated
• Other Brand Names: Imitrex, Alsuma, Imitrex STATdose, Imitrex Statdose Refill, Sumavel DosePro, Zembrace SymTouch, SUMAtriptan Succinate Syringe, ONZETRA Xsail, Imitrex<, Tosymra, Zecuity

Sumatriptan injection is used to treat acute migraine attacks and cluster headaches in adults. Sumatriptan works in the brain to relieve the pain from migraine headaches. It belongs to the group of medicines called triptans.

Many people find that their headaches go away completely after they use sumatriptan. Other people find that their headaches are much less painful, and that they are able to go back to their normal activities even though their headaches are not completely gone. Sumatriptan often relieves other symptoms that occur together with a migraine headache, such as nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light, and sensitivity to sound.

Sumatriptan is not an ordinary pain reliever. It will not relieve any kind of pain other than migraine headaches. This medicine is usually used for people whose headaches are not relieved by acetaminophen, aspirin, or other pain relievers.

Sumatriptan has caused serious side effects in some people, especially in those who have heart or blood vessel disease. Be sure that you discuss with your doctor the risks of using this medicine as well as its benefits.

This medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription.

• Generic Name: primaquine
• Dosage Forms: n.a.
• Other Brand Names:

Treatment of malaria caused by Plasmodium vivax or P. ovale. Provides a radical cure to prevent relapse of malaria caused by these Plasmodium. Has only low activity against asexual erythrocytic forms of Plasmodium; a regimen that includes a blood schizonticidal agent (e.g., chloroquine [or hydroxychloroquine]; quinine with doxycycline or tetracycline; mefloquine; fixed-combination of atovaquone and proguanil [atovaquone/proguanil]; fixed combination of artemether and lumefantrine [artemether/lumefantrine]) is always used in conjunction with primaquine for treatment of P. ovale or P. vivax malaria.

Presumptive antirelapse therapy (terminal prophylaxis) in travelers who received a suitable antimalarial for prevention of malaria but are returning from areas where P. vivax or P. ovale is endemic. If primaquine not used for terminal prophylaxis in individuals who may have been exposed to P. ovale or P. vivax malaria, delayed primary attacks or relapse caused by these Plasmodium can occur.

Prevention of malaria (primary prophylaxis). Primaquine may be an option when other recommended antimalarials (choroquine [or hydroxychloroquine], atovaquone/proguanil, doxycycline, mefloquine) cannot be used for primary prophylaxis and is a good choice when travelers will be in areas with high incidence of P. vivax malaria. If primaquine is used for primary prophylaxis, primaquine presumptive antirelapse therapy is not needed.

Assistance with diagnosis or treatment of malaria is available from CDC Malaria Hotline at 770-488-7788 or 855-856-4713 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time or CDC Emergency Operation Center at 770-488-7100 after hours and on weekends and holidays.

Information on risk of malaria in specific countries and mosquito avoidance measures and recommendations regarding whether prevention of malaria is indicated and choice of antimalarials for prevention are available from CDC.

Pneumocystis jirovecii Pneumonia

Treatment of Pneumocystis jirovecii (formerly Pneumocystis carinii) pneumonia (PCP); used in conjunction with clindamycin. Designated an orphan drug by FDA for use in conjunction with clindamycin for treatment of PCP associated with AIDS.

Co-trimoxazole is drug of choice for treatment of mild, moderate, or severe PCP, including PCP in HIV-infected adults, adolescents, and children. CDC, NIH, and IDSA state that a regimen of primaquine and clindamycin is an alternative for treatment of mild, moderate, or severe PCP in HIV-infected adults and adolescents who have had an inadequate response to co-trimoxazole or when co-trimoxazole is contraindicated or not tolerated. Although data not available regarding use in children, CDC, NIH, IDSA, and AAP state that a regimen of primaquine and clindamycin also can be considered an alternative to co-trimoxazole for treatment of PCP in HIV-infected children based on data in adults.

Not recommended for prevention of initial episodes (primary prophylaxis) of PCP in HIV-infected individuals because data insufficient to determine efficacy; not included in recommendations for long-term suppressive or chronic maintenance therapy (secondary prophylaxis) of PCP. Co-trimoxazole is drug of choice for primary and secondary prophylaxis of PCP in HIV-infected adults, adolescents, and children.