Details

Pyrimethamine is an anti-parasite medicine that helps prevent parasites from growing and reproducing in the body. Pyrimethamine is used together with other medicines to treat or prevent certain types of malaria. However, pyrimethamine is generally not preferred as a medicine to prevent malaria while travelling. Pyrimethamine is also used to treat toxoplasmosis, an infection caused by the Toxoplasma parasite. You should not use pyrimethamine if you are allergic to it, or if you have a blood cell disorder called megaloblastic anaemia that has been caused by folate (folic acid) deficiency. To make sure pyrimethamine is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have seizures (especially if you take phenytoin) liver disease kidney disease a history of alcoholism if you are pregnant or if you are malnourished.

Typical Uses

Pyrimethamine is used with other medication (such as a sulphonamide) to treat a serious parasite infection (toxoplasmosis) of the body, brain, or eye or to prevent toxoplasmosis infection in people with HIV infection. Rarely, pyrimethamine is used with sulfadoxine to treat malaria. Pyrimethamine belongs to a class of drugs known as anti-parasitics. It works by killing parasites. This drug may also be used with other medications (such as dapsone) for the prevention and treatment of pneumocystis pneumonia in AIDS patients.

Side Effects

Common pyrimethamine side effects may include sore throat, swelling in your tongue pale skin, easy bruising, purple spots under your skin the first sign of any skin rash, no matter how mild blood in your urine new or worsening cough, fever, trouble breathing irregular heartbeats or severe skin reaction-fever, sore throat, swelling in your face or tongue, burning in your eyes, skin pain, followed by a red or purple skin rash that spreads (especially in the face or upper body) and causes blistering and peeling.

Drug Interactions

• Pyrimethamine+auranofin- Using auranofin and pyrimethamine is not recommended. Using the drugs together can cause blood disorders and other severe side effects. It is important that you tell your healthcare provider about all other medications that you are using including vitamins and herbs.
• Pyrimethamine+aurothioglucose- Using aurothioglucose and pyrimethamine is not recommended. Using the drugs together can cause blood disorders and other severe side effects. It is important that you tell your healthcare provider about all other medications that you are using including vitamins and herbs.
• Pyrimethamine+deferiprone- Deferiprone can lower white blood cell count, and combining it with other medications that can also affect bone marrow function such as pyrimethamine may increase the risk. You may be more likely to develop serious and potentially life-threatening infections as a result. You should seek immediate medical attention if you have signs and symptoms of infection such as fever, chills, diarrhoea, sore throat, muscle aches, shortness of breath, blood in phlegm, weight loss, red or inflamed skin, body sores, and pain or burning during urination.

Mechanism of action

Pyrimethamine belongs to a group of medicines called antiprotozoals. It is an anti-parasitic and works by killing the parasites or preventing their growth in the blood stream.

Pregnancy Category : C