Primaquine: Uses, Side Effects, Dosage - Drugvu

ℹ️ Compiled from public regulatory records · Last regulator revision: April 13, 2026🚩 Report this page

Primaquine

Aminoquinolines

US FDACA Health Canada

Drug class: Aminoquinolines
Availability: Prescription only
Routes: Oral
Markets covered: 2
Products on record: 3

Overview

Primaquine is an active pharmaceutical ingredient in the Aminoquinolines group (P01BA). The information below is compiled per regulator from the product labels on record, with direct links to the original documents.

Regulatory status by market

Market	Regulator	Products	Last revision
US United States	FDA	2	February 25, 2026
CA Canada	Health Canada	1	April 13, 2026

USUnited States· FDA

2 products

Uses

USOfficial regulatory label· revised April 2, 2025[1]

INDICATIONS AND USAGE
Primaquine phosphate is indicated for the radical cure (prevention of relapse) of vivax malaria.

How to take

CACanada· Health Canada

1 product

1 product on record with this regulator. Detailed label text (uses, dosage, side effects) is being ingested — the original document is linked under Sources [2].

Drug interactions

Known interactions involving Primaquine. Select one for details. This list is informational and not a complete interaction checker.

Adalimumab Amiodarone Amisulpride Anagrelide Arsenic Trioxide Auranofin Aurothioglucose Baricitinib Bedaquiline Bepridil Cabozantinib Ceritinib Certolizumab Pegol Chloroquine Cisapride Citalopram Cladribine Clozapine Crizotinib Deferiprone Disopyramide Dofetilide Dolasetron Dronedarone Droperidol Escitalopram Etanercept Fingolimod Gatifloxacin Golimumab Grepafloxacin Halofantrine Haloperidol Hydroxychloroquine Ibutilide Iloperidone Infliximab Ivabradine Ivosidenib Lefamulin Lumefantrine Mesoridazine Methadone Mifepristone Moxifloxacin Nilotinib Osimertinib Ozanimod Panobinostat Papaverine Pasireotide Pimozide Prilocaine Procainamide Quinidine Ribociclib Saquinavir Selpercatinib Siponimod Sotalol Sparfloxacin Thioridazine Tizanidine Toremifene Upadacitinib Vandetanib Vemurafenib Ziprasidone Abarelix Abiraterone Adenosine Albuterol Alemtuzumab Alfuzosin Alosetron Amitriptyline Amoxapine Apalutamide Apomorphine Arformoterol Aripiprazole Asenapine Astemizole Atomoxetine Azathioprine Azithromycin Bendamustine Benzocaine Bicalutamide Bisacodyl Bosutinib Buprenorphine Castor Oil Celecoxib Cevimeline Chlorpromazine Cilostazol Ciprofloxacin Clarithromycin Clofazimine Clomipramine Cocaine Codeine Dapsone Darifenacin Dasatinib Daunorubicin Degarelix Desipramine Deutetrabenazine Doxepin Doxorubicin Duloxetine Encorafenib Entrectinib Enzalutamide Epirubicin Eribulin Erythromycin Ezogabine Famotidine Fesoterodine Flecainide Fluconazole Fluoxetine Fluphenazine Flutamide Formoterol Foscarnet Fostemsavir Galantamine Ganciclovir Gemifloxacin Gilteritinib Glasdegib Glycerin Goserelin Granisetron Halothane Histrelin Hydroxyzine Idarubicin Imatinib Imipramine Indacaterol Inotuzumab Ozogamicin Isoetharine Isoproterenol Ketoconazole Lactitol Lactulose Lapatinib Lenvatinib Leuprolide Levobupivacaine Levofloxacin Lidocaine Lisdexamfetamine Lithium Carbonate Lofexidine Lomefloxacin Loperamide Magnesium Citrate Magnesium Hydroxide Maprotiline Mefloquine Metaproterenol Methotrimeprazine Midostaurin Mineral Oil Mirtazapine Nilutamide Norfloxacin Nortriptyline Ocrelizumab Ofloxacin Olanzapine Oliceridine Olodaterol Ondansetron Osilodrostat Oxaliplatin Oxytocin Paliperidone Palonosetron Pazopanib Pentamidine Perflutren Perphenazine Phenolphthalein Picosulfurate Pimavanserin Pirbuterol Pirfenidone Pitolisant Polyethylene Glycol 3350 Posaconazole Probucol Prochlorperazine Promazine Promethazine Propafenone Proparacaine Propofol Propoxyphene Protriptyline Quetiapine Quinine Ramelteon Ranolazine Rasagiline Relugolix Rilpivirine Risperidone Ritodrine Ritonavir Rivastigmine Romidepsin Ropinirole Rucaparib Salmeterol Sertraline Sevoflurane Sodium Sulfate Solifenacin Sorafenib Sunitinib Tacrine Tacrolimus Tamoxifen Tasimelteon Telavancin Telithromycin Terbinafine Terbutaline Terfenadine Tetrabenazine Tetracaine Timolol Tramadol

Showing 240 of 258. Type above to find a specific drug.

Interaction data compiled from DDInter (academic, CC-BY). Severity classification only - this is not a complete interaction checker and not medical advice.

Sources & citations

[1]FDA DailyMed · 09531382-2e06-41… · revised April 2, 2025 [PDF]
[2]Health Canada (DPD) · 02017776 · revised April 13, 2026

Information on this page is compiled from public regulatory records. Drugvu is not affiliated with any regulator or pharmaceutical manufacturer. This is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.

Side effects & warnings

USOfficial regulatory label· Adverse reactions· revised April 2, 2025[1]

ADVERSE REACTIONS
gov/medwatch Gastrointestinal: Nausea, vomiting, epigastric distress, abdominal cramps.
Hematologic:
Leukopenia, hemolytic anemia, decreased hemoglobin, methemoglobinemia. Hemolytic anemia occurs commonly in patients with G6PD deficiency and may be severe or fatal in patients with severe G6PD deficiency (see WARNINGS ). Methemoglobin levels are usually <10%, but methemoglobinemia may be severe in nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) methemoglobin reductase deficient individuals or in patients with other risk factors (see PRECAUTIONS ).
Leukopenia was observed in patients with rheumatoid arthritis or lupus erythematosus (see PRECAUTIONS ).
Cardiac:
Cardiac arrhythmia and QT interval prolongation (see PRECAUTIONS , OVERDOSAGE ).
Nervous System:
Dizziness.
Skin and Soft Tissue:
Rash, pruritus.

USOfficial regulatory label· Warnings and precautions· revised April 2, 2025[1]

WARNINGS
Hemolytic Anemia Hemolytic reactions (moderate to severe) may occur in individuals with G6PD deficiency and in individuals with a family or personal history of favism. Areas of high prevalence of G6PD deficiency are Africa, Southern Europe, Mediterranean region, Middle East, South-East Asia, and Oceania.
People from these regions have a greater tendency to develop hemolytic anemia due to a congenital deficiency of erythrocytic G6PD while receiving primaquine and related drugs. Due to the risk of hemolytic anemia in patients with G6PD deficiency, G6PD testing must be performed before using primaquine.
Before initiating treatment, obtain baseline hemoglobin and hematocrit. In case of severe anemia, postpone the G6PD test and decision on treatment with primaquine until recovery. Due to the limitations of G6PD tests, physicians need to be aware of residual risk of hemolysis and adequate medical support and follow-up to manage hemolytic risk should be available.
This is of particular importance in individuals with a personal or family history of hemolytic anemia. Patients with G6PD Deficiency Primaquine is contraindicated in patients with severe G6PD deficiency (see CONTRAINDICATIONS ). In case of mild to moderate G6PD deficiency, a decision to prescribe primaquine must be based on an assessment of the risks and benefits of using primaquine.
, at day 3 and 8) is required. Adequate medical support to manage hemolytic risk should be available. Patients with Unknown G6PD Status When the G6PD status is unknown and G6PD testing is not available, a decision to prescribe primaquine must be based on an assessment of the risks and benefits of using primaquine.
Risk factors for G6PD deficiency or favism must be assessed. , at day 3 and 8) is required. Adequate medical support to manage hemolytic risk should be available. Patients without G6PD Deficiency In G6PD normal patients it is also advisable to perform routine blood examinations (particularly blood cell counts and hemoglobin determinations) during therapy.
Risk of Hemolysis with Other Drugs Avoid the concurrent administration of hemolytic agents in all patients (see CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY, Drug Interactions ). Warn patients to discontinue the use of primaquine promptly if signs suggestive of hemolytic anemia occur (such as darkening of the urine, pale skin, shortness of breath, dizziness, and fatigue) and to contact their healthcare professional immediately.
Pregnancy Safe usage of primaquine in pregnancy has not been established. Primaquine is contraindicated in pregnant women. The use of primaquine during pregnancy may cause hemolytic anemia in a G6PD-deficient fetus. Even if a pregnant woman has normal levels of G6PD, the fetus could be G6PD-deficient (see CONTRAINDICATIONS ).

This is not medical advice. Consult a qualified healthcare professional.