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Notices to Readers
Availability of Primaquine Phosphate from CDC
Primaquine phosphate is an antimalarial drug that decreases the
risk of malaria relapses by acting against the liver stages of
Plasmodium vivax and P. ovale infections. No alternative
antirelapse drugs are available in the United States.
CDC was recently notified by the sole U.S. manufacturer of
primaquine (Winthrop Pharmaceuticals, New York, New York) that
production of this drug has been temporarily discontinued because
its chemical precursor is currently unavailable. Primaquine is
expected to be commercially available again in mid-1991. In the
meantime, CDC has acquired a supply of the drug in sufficient
quantity for treatment of nonmilitary cases of P. vivax and P.
ovale infections. Until primaquine is again commercially
available, CDC will provide this drug free to licensed U.S.
physicians who wish to prescribe it for patients who have
parasitologically-confirmed P. vivax or P. ovale infections and
who reside in the United States or its territories. Patients with
P. falciparum or P. malariae infections do not require primaquine
therapy. Because of the limited supply, CDC is unable to provide
primaquine for persons who wish to use it as part of a
chemoprophylactic regimen.
Physicians who wish to receive therapeutic courses of
primaquine for their patients should call the CDC Drug Service at
(404) 639-3670, Monday through Friday, between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30
p.m. Eastern time. Physicians will be requested to provide the
following information about their patients: clinical and
parasitologic data, places and dates of travel to malarious
areas, and use of malaria chemoprophylaxis.
Disclaimer
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