Pyrimethamine : Before Using

Pyrimethamine - Systemic

Brand Names

Daraprim Pyrimethamine *** Before Using *** How to Use *** Fore Safe Use *** Side Effects *** Additional Information

Before Using

In deciding to using a medication, the chance of taking the drug must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you will make. For pyrimethamine, the following must be considered

Allergic reaction

Tell your family doctor if you have any unusual or allergy to pyrimethamine. Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.

Pregnancy care

Pyrimethamine has not been studied in pregnant women. However, studies in pets have shown that pyrimethamine causes birth defects such as cleft palate, brachygnathia - abnormal shortness of the jaw bone, oligodactyly - fewer than 5 digits on a hand or foot, microphthalmia - abnormal smallness of the eye. Before taking this drug, make sure your family doctor knows if you are pregnant or if you may become pregnant.

Breast-feeding problem

Pyrimethamine passes into breast milk. However, problems in nursing babies have not been reported. Mothers who are taking this drug and who wish to breast-feed must discuss this with their family doctor.

Use for Children

Pyrimethamine has been using in child and, in effective doses, has not been shown to cause various side effects or problems in child than it does in adults.

Elderly care

Many medication have not been studied specifically in elderly people. Therefore, it may not be known whether they work exactly the same way they do in adults people or if they cause various side effects or problems in elderly people. There is no special info comparing use of pyrimethamine in the elderly with use in other age groups.

Drug interactions

Although certain medication must not be using together at all, in other cases two various medication may be using together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your family doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking pyrimethamine, it is especially important that your health care professional know if you are taking any of the following:

Amphotericin B by injection - Fungizone
Antineoplastics - cancer drug
Antithyroid agents - drug for overactive thyroid
Azathioprine - Imuran
Chloramphenicol - Chloromycetin
Colchicine
Cyclophosphamide - Cytoxan
Flucytosine - Ancobon
Ganciclovir - Cytovene
Interferon - Intron A, Roferon-A
Mercaptopurine - Purinethol
Methotrexate - Mexate
Plicamycin - Mithracin
Zidovudine - AZT, Retrovir Use of these medication together with pyrimethamine may increase the risk of side effects effecting the blood

Bone marrow suppressants - methotrexate " Rheumatrex ", proguanil " Malarone ", sulfonamides "medication using to treat infections ", trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole " Bactrim ", zidovudine " Retrovir " may increase risk of bone marrow problems

Lorazepam - Ativan Mild liver problems have been reported when using this drug together with pyrimethamine

Phenytoin - Dilantin Use of this drug together with pyrimethamine may effect folate - vitamin B levels in the body

Other Information for using

The presence of other medical problems may effect the use of pyrimethamine. Make sure you tell your family doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

Allergy to pyrimethamine or any ingredient in the drug pyrimethamine must not be using

Anemia or other blood problems High doses of pyrimethamine may make these conditions worse

Kidney problems
Liver problems
Lack of vitamin B in the body causing by
- Alcoholism - drinking too much alcohol
- Malabsorption syndrome - when a person's body does not absorb enough nutrients from the food they eat
May make the condition worse

Seizure disorders, such as epilepsy High doses of pyrimethamine may increase the risk of convulsions - seizures