Sulfadoxine/pyrimethamine

Sulfadoxine/pyrimethamine
Combination of
SulfadoxineSulfonamide
PyrimethamineAntiparasitic
Clinical data
Pronunciationpeer-i-METH-a-meen/sul-fa-DOX-een[1]
Trade namesFansidar, Fanlar, others
AHFS/Drugs.comConsumer Drug Information
License data
Pregnancy
category
  • AU: C
Routes of
administration		By mouth
ATC code
Legal status
Legal status
  • AU: S4 (Prescription only)
  • UK: POM (Prescription only)
  • US: ℞-only
Identifiers
CAS Number
KEGG
  (verify)

Sulfadoxine/pyrimethamine, sold under the brand name Fansidar, is a combination medication used to treat malaria.[1][2] It contains sulfadoxine (a sulfonamide) and pyrimethamine (an antiprotozoal).[3] For the treatment of malaria it is typically used along with other antimalarial medication such as artesunate.[3] In areas of Africa with moderate to high rates of malaria, three doses are recommended during the second and third trimester of pregnancy.[4]

Side effects include diarrhea, rash, itchiness, headache, and hair loss.[3][1] Rarely a severe allergic reaction or rash such as toxic epidermal necrolysis, may occur.[1] It is not generally recommended in people with a sulfonamide allergy or significant liver or kidney disease.[3] It works by blocking malaria's ability to use folinic acid.[1]

Sulfadoxine/pyrimethamine was initially approved for medical use in the United States in 1981.[1] It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines.[5] It is not commercially available in the United States.[1]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g "Pyrimethamine/sulfadoxine: Indications, Side Effects, Warnings - Drugs.com". www.drugs.com. Archived from the original on 20 December 2016. Retrieved 11 December 2016.
  2. ^ World Health Organization (2015). The selection and use of essential medicines. Twentieth report of the WHO Expert Committee 2015 (including 19th WHO Model List of Essential Medicines and 5th WHO Model List of Essential Medicines for Children). Geneva: World Health Organization. hdl:10665/189763. ISBN 9789241209946. ISSN 0512-3054. WHO technical report series;994.
  3. ^ a b c d World Health Organization (2009). Stuart MC, Kouimtzi M, Hill SR (eds.). WHO Model Formulary 2008. World Health Organization. pp. 187–91, 198–200. hdl:10665/44053. ISBN 9789241547659.
  4. ^ "Intermittent preventive treatment in pregnancy (IPTp)". WHO. Archived from the original on 5 March 2014. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
  5. ^ World Health Organization (2019). World Health Organization model list of essential medicines: 21st list 2019. Geneva: World Health Organization. hdl:10665/325771. WHO/MVP/EMP/IAU/2019.06. License: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO.