Paludrine 100mg Tablets Pack of 98

Paludrine contains a medicine called proguanil hydrochloride. This belongs to a group of medicines called ‘anti-malarials’.

‘Anti-malarials’ can be used in certain parts of the world to help prevent malaria. This is a serious disease spread by infected mosquitoes. Paludrine will give some degree of protection (prophylaxis) against malaria in certain countries. Paludrine can also be prescribed by a  doctor to help suppress some types of malaria.

Medicines to help prevent malaria (malaria prophylaxis) are recommended for:

• People travelling to countries where malaria occurs.
• People living in affected areas who are not immune to malaria.  These people have little or no immunity to malaria, so they are at risk of severe attacks.

You must get medical advice on which anti-malarial medicines to take. You must ask your doctor or pharmacist if Paludrine is suitable for the part of the world that you are visiting. In some countries you may have to take Paludrine with another medicine for maximum protection.

Avoiding mosquito bites

When you are taking this medicine to prevent malaria, you should also reduce the chances of being bitten by mosquitoes.

• Wear light-coloured, long-sleeved clothing and long trousers when you are outside after sunset.
• Use insect repellent creams or sprays on parts of your body not covered by clothing.
• Sleep in a properly screened room or under a mosquito net.
• Spray to kill any mosquitoes that may have entered rooms in spite of screening.

Signs of malaria

No medicine can be guaranteed to protect against malaria in every case. If you have a high temperature (fever) during your visit to a malaria area, or up to a year after returning home, you should suspect malaria. Contact a doctor straight away and let him or her know that you have visited a malaria area.

If this medicine is from your doctor or pharmacist, take it exactly as they have told you.

Otherwise, follow the instructions below. If you do not understand the instructions, or you are not sure, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Start taking this medicine one week before you enter the malaria area. If this is not possible, start taking this medicine at least two days before you enter the malaria area.

You must continue to take it during your stay.

You must keep taking this medicine for 4 weeks after leaving the malaria area.

Adults and children over 14 years

• Take two tablets daily.

Children

Under 1 year (including babies who are being breast-fed): 

• Take a quarter of a Paludrine tablet daily.

Ages 1 to 4 years: 

• Take half a Paludrine tablet daily.

Ages 5 to 8 years: 

• Take one Paludrine tablet daily.

Ages 9 to 14 years: 

• Take one and a half Paludrine tablets daily.

How to take your tablets

Take the tablet(s) at the same time each day.

Take the tablet(s) after food.

Swallow the tablet(s), or part tablets, whole with a drink of water.

For a young child, the tablet(s) may be given crushed in milk, honey or jam.

Please tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, or have recently taken, any other medicines. This includes medicines that you buy without a prescription and herbal medicines.

In particular, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any of the following medicines:

• Warfarin or other medicines used to prevent blood clots. Paludrine may increase the effect of these medicines.
• Antacids (aluminium, calcium and magnesium salts that are used to treat heartburn or indigestion). Antacids may reduce the amount of Paludrine absorbed from your gut. This may mean that the full dose of Paludrine is not absorbed into your body and it will not work properly. Therefore, you should take your antacid dose at least two hours before or after taking your Paludrine dose.

Do not take Paludrine if you are allergic (hypersensitive) to proguanil hydrochloride or any of the other ingredients of Paludrine.

Check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking your medicine if you have ever had problems with your kidneys. This is because your doctor may give you a lower dose of Paludrine.

If you live in a country where malaria occurs, you may already be slightly immune to the disease. You must ask a doctor or pharmacist for advice before you take anti-malarial medicines.

If you are pregnant or may become pregnant, talk to a doctor or pharmacist:

• before you take Paludrine,
• before you take any medicine to prevent malaria,
• and before you go to a country where there is malaria.

If you are breast-feeding, talk to a doctor or pharmacist before taking Paludrine.

Although Paludrine passes into the breast milk, the amount is not enough to protect your baby from malaria. Therefore, your baby will still need to be given anti-malarial medicines.

Ask your doctor or pharmacist who will be able to give you advice.

Paludrine is not likely to affect you being able to drive or use any tools or machines.

If you take more Paludrine tablets than you should, talk to a doctor or go to a hospital straight away.

If you forget to take a dose of Paludrine, take it as soon as you remember. However, if it is nearly time for the next dose of Paludrine, skip the missed dose.

Do not take a double dose (two doses at the same time) to make up for a forgotten dose.

Only stop taking Paludrine four weeks after leaving the malaria area or if your doctor tells you to.

If you have any further questions on the use of this product, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Like all medicines, Paludrine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.

If you have an allergic reaction, stop taking Paludrine and get medical help or contact your doctor straight away. The signs may include:

• Difficulty in breathing.
• Swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat which may cause difficulty in swallowing.
• An itchy rash (similar to nettle rash or hives).
• Stomach upsets, diarrhoea, constipation. These usually improve as treatment continues.
• Mouth ulcers.
• Inflamed mouth.
• Skin reactions, including itching, sometimes with swelling of the affected area.
• Hair loss (sometimes reversible).
• If you have kidney problems, Paludrine may cause changes to your blood.
• Liver problems which may cause yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes.
• High temperature (fever).

Do not be concerned by this list of possible side effects. You may not get any of them.

If any of the side effects get serious, or if you notice any side effects not listed, please tell your doctor or pharmacist.

Keep your medicine in a safe place where children cannot see or reach it. Your medicine could harm them.

Do not store your medicine above 30oC.

Protect the tablets from light and moisture.

Keep the tablets in the container they came in.

Do not take Paludrine after the expiry date stated on the carton. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.

Medicines should not be disposed of via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medicines that are no longer required. This will help to protect the environment.

The active substance in Paludrine Tablets is proguanil hydrochloride. Each tablet contains 100 mg of proguanil hydrochloride.

The other ingredients are calcium carbonate, gelatin, magnesium stearate and maize starch.